What Is Attacking My Daphne Shrub?

Are the leaves curled and discolored?

Do the leaves have white, cottony clusters on them?

Are the leaves yellow, branches, and leaves are covered with small bumps?

Do the leaves have brown spots on them?

Does your daphne suddenly wilts and dies?

Have the twigs died back?

Are the lower foliage burned?

curled and discolored leaves on daphne are caused by aphids. These tiny insects can vary in color, green, pink, black, gray to completely white. They cluster under leaves and on growing tips where they feed on plant sap. Leaves, stems, and buds get distorted and later leaves and flowers drop from the plant. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

White, cottony clusters on leaves are caused by mealybugs. These tiny insects are covered with a fluffy white coating. They feed by sucking plants sap. They produce sticky substance honeydew which makes leaves sticky. You can control them by washing them off the plant with water spray. Insecticidal soap should be used with severe infestations.

Yellow leaves covered by small bumps are caused by scales. These tiny, shelled insects often feed on the undersides of the leaves, causing an unhealthy appearance with yellowish blotches on the upper leaf surfaces. Scrape off minor infestations with your fingernail. Prune out badly infested growth, or use a soft brush and soapy water to gently scrub the scales off the stems. Control scales by spraying insecticidal oil during the growing season.

Some types of fungi cause thick brown spots to develop on both sides of daphne leaves. These leaves then turn yellow and wilt, eventually dying. Treat infected shrubs by promptly picking off all leaves and twigs that show symptoms and discarding them. Spray affected shrubs with copper fungicide.

Southern blight is a fungal disease that can kill daphne shrub in less than a month. It thrives in hot weather and acidic soil.

Twig blight is a disease that is known to cause problems for daphne shrubs. Prune off affected parts back to live wood. Spray plants with copper fungicide or lime sulfur fungicide when symptoms first appear and then every 10 days in wet seasons. Avoid overhead watering.

Dog urine will discolor daphne branches and foliage, and kill them. Spray vulnerable foliage with anti-transpirant spray to protect it. Where there are chronic problems, screen the shrub or spray its lower branches with pet repellant. Daphne is a sensitive plant so these measures may be as harmful as the original problem.

Daphne shrubs in general and fragrant daphnes, in particular, are extremely sensitive to their surroundings. They have the disconcerting tendency to up and die suddenly for no apparent reason. Often the cause is a subtle change in their environment - too much water or fertilizer, exposure to rapid temperature change, the proximity of another plant, etc.