Some diseases can affect your hollies, but most can be avoided by giving the plants adequate space, water, pruning and drainage, plus fungicide if needed. Remove infected plants and the surrounding soil to stop the spread of this disease. They injure plants by direct feeding or wounding tissue, making an entrance for other disease organisms. Evergreen American holly trees are also called the Christmas holly. Plants may appear water-stressed, and there may be a yellowing of foliage followed by leaf drop. The small flowering evergreen tree grows well as a hedge or specimen plant in a garden landscape. Care for plants well so that they are not under stress from other factors. The various types of hollies include large trees, bushy shrubs, and dwarf cultivars. Holly tree berries: The dahoon holly tree berries are a red-orange color and grow in characteristic clusters. The yaupon holly tree is a multi-stemmed shrub-like holly tree with its dense foliage ideal for growing as a dense hedge. Additionally, there are less toxic spray fungicides that contain sulfur or copper soap, and biological control sprays for plant diseases that contain Bacillus subtilis. Justin Stewart is a contributing writer to DoItYourself.com. The root system is small and has dead areas, as well as galls in some cases. This fungus primarily affects the root system and reduces plant vigor. It has killed millions of trees in the Midwest, and it's slowly spreading across the country. The most common holly species are the American holly (Ilex opaca) and the English holly (Ilex aquifolium). East Palatka Holly (Jlg X attenuata) is often particularly hard hit. Their presence inside the leaf protects them from many insecticides. Their usual size is 15 to 25 feet high and 8 to 10 feet wide. The tall inkberry holly tree is an evergreen holly plant with elliptical oblong leaves, serrated margins, and dark red or black globose berries. This disease appears as slightly shrunken, discolored and cracked bark on twigs of the bush. The best way to identify holly trees and bushes is by looking at the leaves and berries. At first, the bark will start to appear reddish-brown. 1995-2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, Bugwood.org. Severely affected plants may have twig dieback. Too much moisture, not enough airflow, & poor soil are the most common issues that cause fungus and diseases for holly bushes. A dwarf variety of yaupon holly is the Nana cultivar which has compact, rounded growth. The first two segments of the antennae are gray, and the third segment is black. Sort by: Most popular. Also, the leaves may become twisted and distorted and may dry and drop off, and twigs may also be infected. They live in organic matter in the soil or on roots and other parts of living plants. Repeat this application after 10 days to better control the crawlers, adults, and eggs by smothering them. With their bright red berries and glossy green leaves, holly bushes (Ilex spp.) Holly tree berries: Clusters of red berries in the winter. You should maintain a list of the commonly occurring holly tree diseases and their appearance to identify them and address infections. Size: 20 ft. (6 m) tall and 14 ft. (4.2 m) wide. Holly tree leaves: Oak leaf holly tree leaves are 3.5 (9 cm) long and are leathery, green ovate leaves with spiny margins. Prevention is the best form of treatment and holly diseases can often be avoided by practicing sound garden management techniques. Control: Spray with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) between late May and mid-June to kill young worms. Being able to identify the types of disease that may cause the tree to become damaged or suffer a premature death will help a holly tree owner apply a fix that will save the tree and prolong its life. The popular English holly tree is famous for its dark glossy green prickly leaves, clusters of bright red berries, and winter decorations. Copyright Learn which plants thrive in your Hardiness Zone with our new interactive map! The powdery material can be scraped off. Several blue holly cultivars have beautiful bluish-green shiny foliage. Mulch around hol- lies with well-rotted sawdust, pine straw, or an aged bark to hold moisture in the soil and to avoid mechanical injury to the limbs and trunk by mowers and weed trimmers. Perform a soil drench every four to 12 weeks during the spring and summer where preventing root rots is a concern. The fungus thrives in areas with poor drainage and warm soils. These products contain imidacloprid, which will move up and throughout the shrub and protect the holly from most insect damage for a year. The oak leaf holly tree has an upright, pyramidal shape. Avoid excess nitrogen fertilizer in spring and early summer. For heavier infestations, spray with a 2% horticultural oil in the early spring to kill adults. Spine spot occurs when the leaves of the holy perforate. Holly Diseases. Still, it can look fabulous in a winter garden because it's also evergreen. Holly leaves can be spiked or smooth, green or variegated. Amend the soil to improve drainage and replace the tree with a resistant variety. Fungicides cannot control this fungus. The bark at the base of the blighted twig takes on a water-soaked appearance, then looks dark, sunken, and dry. Browse 401 holly disease stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Populations of southern red mites usually peak in spring and fall. They are typically found on the undersurfaces of leaves and look like small brownish or grayish bumps. With proper maintenance, your holly trees remain vigorous and more prepared to fight off or to resist fungal infections. American Holly. Canker is a common problem on apple trees. He loves researching new home improvement techniques, and has written about a huge range of topics, from electrical wiring, to plumbing, to carpentry. An infected holly will have dark brown to black roots; the fungus works its way back from the tips. Most types of variegated holly plants have glossy dark to light green leaves with creamy yellow margins. Greedy scale (Hemiberlesia rapax) is an armored scale that has been reported on East Palatka holly. Both varieties look similar, in that they have an abundance of red berries and sharp-toothed foliage. Chlorosis - As far as diseases, you may see leaves becoming yellow. Leafminer damage has neither a gray center nor a purple halo. They rarely kill established trees, but they may cause severe growth deformities. Prune during dry weather to minimize the spread of the disease. It gets into the tree via wounds that allow the fungus to enter. While holly bushes are common additions to the landscape and generally quite hardy, these attractive shrubs occasionally suffer from their share of holly bush diseases, pests, and other problems. Size: 10 to 20 ft. (3 6 m) tall with a spread of 10 to 15 ft. (3 4.5 m). Because holly berries are poisonous, its best not to plant holly bushes where children play. Tar spot is a fungal infection that appears on the holly tree. Cercospora blight or leafspot is a fungus that causes circular gray or brown spots with dark margins on holly leaves. Individual species of hollies have distinctive glossy leaves with wavy margins and jaggy spines, small blunt points, or smooth edges. Marjan Kluepfel, Former HGIC Horticulture Information Specialist, Clemson UniversityJanet McLeod Scott, Former Horticulture Information Specialist, Clemson UniversityJames H. Blake, EdD, Extension Associate/Adjunct Professor, Dept. Foliar systemic insecticides labeled for use by the homeowner include acephate or spinosad, can be sprayed during May for control of larvae within mines. Leaves may turn a bronze color and then drop. For example, sprays with insecticidal soap, horticultural oil, neem oil extract, spinosad, Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t. Use raised beds in landscape plantings to provide good drainage. Remove and destroy (do not compost) all heavily spotted or fallen leaves. Do not use those with blackened roots. Holly bushes have relatively few life-threatening problems, although there are a few common holly tree diseases. They are small and immobile, with no visible legs. Holly tree leaves: English holly tree leaves are glossy green wavy leaves measuring up to 3 (7.5 cm) long in an elliptical shape with spiked margins. Tea scale (Fiorinia theae) is another very common armored scale pest of hollies. Typically, yellowing of the leaves (particularly at the shoot tips), early leaf drop, slowed plant growth, and twig dieback are seen at early stages of the disease. See Table 1 for examples of products containing these active ingredients. A purple blotch appears when a holly tree is injured, damaged or if it is dry and without nutrients. Nematodes: Root-knot (Meloidogyne), ring (Criconemoides), stunt (Tylenchorhynchus), sting (Belonolaimus), and spiral (Helicotylenchus) nematodes are seldom seen due to their microscopic size. In late fall, tiny black dots are scattered over the white patches like pepper grains. Plant diverse species. Prevention & Treatment: Presently, there are no effective chemicals registered for the control of nematodes in existing landscape plants. This disease appears as slightly shrunken, discolored and cracked bark on twigs of the bush. Holly bush berries: An abundance of showy scarlet red berries that look stunning throughout winter on bare branches. Indian wax scale (Ceroplases ceriferus) is a soft scale that may infest Chinese and Yaupon hollies. Holly tree berries: Round black berry-like drupes that grow underneath the evergreen foliage. Powdery mildew forms a white coating on leaf surfaces during dry, cloudy weather with high humidity. See Table 1 for examples of products containing these active ingredients. In years of heavy rainfall, berries, as well as leaves, are spotted. Blue holly is a large shrub or small tree with glossy green, pointed leaves with spines on the margins and shiny crimson red berries. Remove infected plant material and surrounding soil. Questions of a Do It Yourself nature should be The evergreen holly plants are generally recognizable by their thick, glossy leaves with sharp spines along the margins. 06, 07, 10, 23), Scouting and Controlling Woody Ornamental Diseases in Landscapes and Nurseries, Spotted Lanternfly Permit Training for Businesses: Pennsylvania. Holly tree leaves: Japanese holly tree leaves are small and oval, like plant leaves from the Buxus genus. Copyright Leaf Group Ltd. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. It makes an excellent screen, barrier, foundation planting or accent plant, and wildlife use it for food and cover. Prevention & Treatment: Remove and destroy badly spotted leaves, prune to improve air circulation and overcrowding, and clean up and destroy fallen leaves. Cankers on young trees can kill them. Coniothyrium rarely causes serious damage, but the holly's leaves will turn yellow and drop early. The holly, its bright-red berries a favorite symbol of winter, is one of the most popular landscape trees. It appears as a yellowish spot on the leaves of the holly. The fungus Thielaviopsis basicola causes black root rot. The longstalk holly bush is a broadleaved evergreen plant with glossy green smooth leaves without any serration or spines on the edges. The native holly leafminer female is generally more active than the male. Plant a mix of species, and if pest damage or tree diseases occur, it will be confined to a few plants instead of spreading through the entire landscape. An oil spray should be applied before new growth begins to kill both over-wintering adults and eggs. Please enter your email address below to create account. Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates from HGIC. Holly Diseases Articles Holly Diseases Informational table showing disease name, symptoms, pathogen/cause, and management of Holly diseases. Each of these diseases are discussed in further detail below. An analysis of soil and roots must be done to confirm that nematodes are actually causing the symptoms. Keep trees healthy and prevent infection. Michelle has a knack for tackling tough topics and making them simple. The plants flowers can help identify female holly plants apart from male flowers. Parasitic wasps and birds are natural predators of these pests. Holly tree pests such as scale, mites, and holly leaf miner are the most commonly seen affecting hollies. Although most species of hollies are evergreen plants, there are some deciduous holly bushes that drop their leaves in winter. As an alternative, a soil application of dinotefuran or imidacloprid is effective in controlling the larvae within the leaves. An insecticidal spray containing one of the following active ingredients will reduce damage by adult spittlebugs: acephate, bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, or permethrin. All information is provided "AS IS." Protect surrounding plants with a fungicide. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. These turn reddish-brown and finally black by fall. Prevention & Treatment: The fungus has the ability to persist in the soil for many years, even in the absence of susceptible plants. The eggs hatch in about four days. Aboveground symptoms may include stunting of terminal growth, shortening of internodes, and interveinal chlorosis. Plants with extensive root rot damage will usually decline and die during dry periods. Dwarf holly shrubs are ideal plants for compact gardens, evergreen hedgerows, or growing in containers. Control: When planting new trees and shrubs, choose resistant varieties. Yaupon holly (I. vomitoria) and American holly (I. opaca) are moderately resistant, while Japanese hollies (I. crenata) are very susceptible to black root rot. The cankers spread, eventually cutting off all the nutrients to any part of the plant above the canker. Grow the oak leaf holly plant as foundation plantings, an evergreen border, or privacy hedge. Website operating The dahoon holly is a small evergreen tree with ovate to oval smooth green leaves with slightly serrated tips and brilliant red winter berries. The Clemson Cooperative Extension notes that hollies succumb to fungal root rots when planted on poorly draining soil or when overly mulched. Good cultural practices, such as proper fertilization, control of soil moisture, and providing good drainage (raised beds), will reduce the disease. These wounds can be caused by insects, irregular pruning, or damage that occurs naturally. Each larva constructs a bag that covers its entire body. Camphor shoot borers are an introduced species of ambrosia beetle that attack small-diameter branches and trunks of stressed, weakened, and dying trees. Holly tree bark diseases, such as bot canker, generally are stress-related, easily prevented if you take care of the bush properly. Looking up close, pictures of male holly plant flowers show they have longer stamens than female holly flowers. A pest creates tattered foliage or spotted leaves for a short time, but then environmental conditions change, and the pest is no longer present. 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