Any idea what’s going on with my Texas mountain laurel?
by fenderpaint07
Any idea what’s going on with my Texas mountain laurel?
by fenderpaint07
3 Comments
Every year it gets those worms and this year seems about the same as any other year but it’s turning black on some leaves and seed pods and now it’s rapidly going brown
Kinda looks like glyphosate damage…. Have any enemies in the area?
Hi OP, arborist who used to live in Austin. Mountain laurels are pretty tough and resilient shrubs (you have to be drought tolerant and tough to thrive in the Hill Country).
Your comment mentioned worms, and in my experience I’ve only seen a few cases of severe Genista Moth Caterpillar infestations. These caterpillars are immune to the chemical deterrents found in Mt. Laurel foliage and can cause unsightly damage.
[Here’s some info from TXAM Ag Life about Genista caterpillars and Texas Mountain Laurel.](https://landscapeipm.tamu.edu/ipm-for-ornamentals/genista-caterpillar-on-texas-mountain-laurel/) If the photos in there match what you see, that’s what’s going on. Control measures are typically taken in spring when the eggs hatch and larva start feeding. If you’re seeing black stuff and you’ve had the insects attacking this thing for years, you might have secondary infection (sooty mold, perhaps? Can’t see on photos provided).
You may want to contact a certified arborist who knows about mountain laurels for further evaluation.