Multiple flowering perennials have developed this leaf spot in one contiguous area of the garden. New growth tends to curl over on it's self. Flowering is greatly diminished. Grasses and shrubs seem unaffected. Penstemon, Eutrochium, Verbena, Stachys, Amsonia, Veronicastrum, all affected. This has continued for multiple seasons. Any ideas?
by meadows_57
5 Comments
Look up four lined plant bug and see if you think it might be that. I have similar damage and couldn’t find an answer, so I asked my local state university horticulture extension office and they told me it is damage from this bug. I have it on mint, sage, lemon balm, echinacea, chrysanthemums, and probably other herbs I can’t remember.
eta I have a post in my recent history with a pic of my chrysanthemum damage
Have you seen a leafhopper type bug?
I think you’re dealing with multiple issues. Is there a common thread like too much water from rain etc? I would also take a piece of white paper out and do the shake test. Where you shake the plant over the paper and see what kind of insects are falling off onto it. You need to do some exploring and detective work. Also depends on where you’re located. Should say that somewhere.
Looks like leaf hopper and aphid damage.
Does your neighbor spray broadleaf herbicide on their lawn?
Or perhaps granular ‘weed and feed’ products? If they do and it drains into your garden then it would cause damage similar to this. It looks like diluted herbicide damage