The pest is the genista caterpillar when i lived in the high altitudes of las cruces, new mexico, i grew a few texas mountain laurel sophora secundiflora. Once placed in the right area, mountain laurels grow at. Texas mountain laurel is a droughttolerant species native to the southwest and requires welldrained soil and infrequent watering. Texas mountain laurel is a small north american native evergreen, growing 15 to 25feettall with a 10footspread but is capable of reaching up to 50feettall in its native habitat. Plant database lady bird johnson wildflower center texas. One pest to be concerned about is the genista caterpillar that feeds on its leaves, young twig growth and immature seed pods. A frugal water user once established, but if thoroughly soaked several times a month during the summer, you can increase this plants rate of growth.
Pyralidae that occurs on texas mountain laurel, sophora secundiflora, a small native tree sometimes used in the landscape drees and jackman 1998. Leaf spot leaf spot, caused by the fung us mycosph aerella c olorata. Sep 21, 2017 while laurel shrubs grow vigorously and tend to choke out most problematic plant invaders that might interfere with their health, they can be susceptible to infections and diseases. The pest is the genista caterpillar when i lived in the high altitudes of las cruces, new mexico, i grew a few texas mountain laurel sophora secundiflora trees in. Some of you may have noticed an exceptionally large outbreak of the scarlet laurel bugs on the new growth of your texas mountain laurels this year.
The texas mountain laurel tree calia secundiflora also called the mescal bean. With the rainy, warm weather weve been having this season shot hole fungus is running rampant. Diseases of mountain laurel bushes gardening know how. Good drainage is a must, as is frequent monitoring for the worm, the genista moth larvae which can decimate the foliage in a few days, and is its primary pest. Lovely as they are, the flowers of texas mountain laurel are toxic to humans and animals, as are the plants seed pods and leaves. It is a very cold tolerant plant, even if it gets into the twenties here in southeast texas. Lady bird johnson wildflower center the university of texas. Texas mountain laurel vivero growers nursery, austin tx. You will still see texas mountain laurel referred to as s. Shot hole fungus, also known as shot hole disease, is a serious fungal disease that creates distinct bbsized holes in leaves. Identify these diseases as quickly as possible to ensure that you can get your mountain laurel treated and healthy before it is too late. We have a beautiful tx mountain laurel in our front yard.
While it can reach 30 tall if given lots of water, it usually holds in the more manageable and desirable 10 to 15 range and gets about 10 wide. Dermatophyllum secundiflorum the intoxicating fragrance of texas mountain laurel is enough to cause drivers to slam on the brakes or dog walkers to abruptly stop short, giving poor fido whiplash. Texas mountain laurel denton county master gardener. Several established mountain laurel trees are dropping all their. Its flowers have a sweet fragrance that resembles grape koolaid. Plant texas mountain laurel in full sun or light shade. Another, more serious disease of mountain laurels is botryosphaeria canker. Dermatophyllum secundiflorum is a species of flowering shrub or small tree in the pea family, fabaceae, that is native to the southwestern united states texas, new mexico and mexico chihuahua and coahuila south to hidalgo, puebla and queretaro. Diseases of mountain laurel tend to be primarily fungal. Texas mountain laurel sophora secundiflora texas mountain laurel is often described as being relatively disease and pest free, however it can be attacked by the genista caterpillar, sometimes referred to as sophora worms. Several established mountain laurel trees are dropping all.
I had a similar problem with a texas mountain laurel. Various leaf spot fungi cause yellow, brown or black dead blotches on mountain laurel leaves. Webworm on texas mountain laurel in texas answered by. It will probably not be cold hardy north of interstate 20.
They suck sap from the undersides of mountain laurel leaves, causing them to turn pale or mottled. Texas mountain laurel monrovia texas mountain laurel. Common names include texas mountain laurel, texas mescalbean, frijolito, and frijolillo. I love the smell when mountain laurels are blooming. The texas mountain laurel, sophora secundiflora, is an excellent evergreen choice in your landscape. They are drought tolerant once established and bloom beautiful fragrant purple grape like clusters of flowers in the spring. Plant texas mountain laurel in full sun or light shade, but protect it from the brutal lateday sun 47 p. Plant health care recommendations for mountain laurel mountain laurel kalmia latifolia is a popular native broadleaf evergreen shrub which is widely used in shrub borders and natural areas. The foliage of mountainlaurel can be infec ted by at least 14 different species of fungi and suffers from an assortment of environmentally caused leaf disorders. Department of agriculture forest service site on sophora secundiflora texas mountain laurel says it has no major pests or diseases. It disfigured the tree so badly that i replaced it with another species. There has been a huge outbreak of that fungal disease this year. In the spring, heavy clusters of purpleblue flowers hang from the leafy.
What is the best way to plant texas mountain laurel seed pods and how long do they take to germinate. It proved to be a fungal issue that was within the wood of one trunk. Mountain laurels are elegant shrubs with leathery leaves and unusual flowers. It is often used in xeriscaping because it is very drought tolerant and attractive. The fragrance of texas mountain laurel flowers is reminiscent of artificial grape products. It will produce very fragrant purple hanging flowers in early spring, usually around late march to early april. The texas mountain laurel sophora secundiflora is an evergreen shrub and it grows slowly, in time becoming treelike with multiple trunks. Fortunately it is being produced by a number of growers and is fairly available.
Both diseases may cause yellowing and browning of leaf tissue, as well as irregular blotches, lesions and spots. It is a soilborne fungus, and will quickly take out any vulnerable plant growing in. Good drainage is a must, as is frequent monitoring for the worm, the genista moth larvae which can. It afflicts many other plants besides laurel and is, again, a fungal disease. Dec 26, 2019 the texas mountain laurel tree calia secundiflora also called the mescal bean. This is one texas beauty youll want to get up close and personal with, so be sure to plant it were you can smell the grape soda and become a kid again. It the most serious cases, it can kill your mountain laurel. If your laurels foliage has spots, the likely culprit is a fungal disease like leaf spot.
I experienced the same kind of dieback and eventual loss on my own mountain laurel. Mountain laurel kalmia latifolia is an evergreen shrub native to north america characterized by large clusters of spring blooming showy pink or white flowers. I thought my mountain laurel had web worms and i sprayed for them. Caring for a texas laurel tree home guides sf gate. Learn more about monrovia plants and best practices for best possible plant performance. Wood of texas mountain laurel may have fungal issue local. So there you have the story of a native texas plant with the inappropriate name of mountain laurel making it big in landscapes. The texas mountain laurel will bring the pollinators to your garden as the bees love the flowers. Fungal leaf spot can cause serious injury to your plant, including twig or branch dieback. Texas laurel sophora secundiflora, more commonly called texas mountain laurel, needs only minimal care to look its best. This is one of the most common of mountain laurel insects and is small and square shaped.
Texas mountain laurel is not normally susceptible to disease. Darkbrown, pimplelike fruiting structures are scattered within the spot. Also, i sprayed with a fungicide because some of the stems look like they have a fungus, but the plant is still. The genista caterpillar, uresiphita reversalis guenee, is the immature stage of a moth lepidoprera. This has happened several times in texas so burners beware. Identifying mountain laurel diseases written by doityourself staff. Large, tan to brown spots on leaves have a dark line on their perimeter and a purple halo. It is important to learn the signs of these diseases in order to treat them.
Also, i sprayed with a fungicide because some of the stems look like they have a fungus, but the plant is still doing badly. Questions about the purpleblue blooms hanging in clusters and having the wonderful scent of grape chewing gum have begun. Lady bird johnson wildflower center the university of. All types of laurel hedge need to be pruned once a year. Spores enter plants through pruning wounds or other damaged areas as well as through the natural openings in the plant tissue. The flowers resemble wisteria and bloom early in spring. Mar 04, 2016 the mountain laurels are in bloom in central texas. Dead leaves wont mean a lot, but tissues collected from the. In the spring, texas mountain laurel produces bright purple, drooping clusters of fragrant flowers. Every now and then foliage worms may devour some leaves, but the plant comes right back, which. Although the texas mountain laurel can be grown from seed, it grows so slowly that youre better off investing in a 5 gallon specimen that can be planted any time of year. Exterminate pests and revive your mountain laurels. Like all plants, mountain laurels have their share of diseases.
This scarlet red bug with a central black wing area feeds on new growth, blooms and seed pods. They are native to the alkaline soils of the texas hill country, and are often found growing among granite rocks. Jun 22, 2018 shot hole fungus, also known as shot hole disease, is a serious fungal disease that creates distinct bbsized holes in leaves. We knew that was not the answer you were looking for. We thought mountain laurels were pretty much immune to most diseases, but ours are very sick all of a sudden. The connecticut agricultural experiment station caes, established in 1875, is the first agricultural experiment station in the united states.
Texas mountain laurels have very few insect or disease problems except for. It is important to learn the signs of these diseases in order to treat sick mountain laurels as soon as possible and nip the problem in the bud so to speak. Our arborists report seeing shot hole fungus on lots of cherry laurels in this area. The best time of year to prune is late springearly summer as there will be lots of new growth at this time of year to cover up any tatty or damaged leaves caused by trimming with a hedgetrimmer. The brilliant, lacquer red seeds were valued by indigenous people for ornament and ceremonial use. Mountain laurel shrubs are generally healthy, but a few diseases can do harm to your shrub.
There are at least a dozen fungal pathogens that cause leaf. Mountain laurel is highly prized for its flowers in midtolate spring and its attractive foliage. Young trees may be purchased at the nursery, or grown from seed. Wet leaves seem to make the disease worse, so make sure not to water your plants from overhead. The only matches that popped up in an online search for diseases of texas mountain laurel sophora secundiflora were for the northern mountain laurel kalmia. Shothole is a common bacterial disease on otto luyken, zabal and schip laurel plants. Texas mountain laurel sophora secundiflora plant of the month. Now the plant looks like it still has the worms even though none are present. This report describes two of the most common fungal leaf diseases and two environmentally caused leaf disorders. Keeping an eye on your laurel shrubs for signs of infection and illness will help you maintain a healthy, happy shrub for years to come.
However, these shrubs tend to get badly infested by pests and other conditions. Sophora secundiflora texas mountain laurel is a wonderful evergreen shrub which breaks forth in february and march with showy purple blossoms whimsically smelling like grape bubblegum or perhaps. Monrovia s texas mountain laurel details and information. This is the time of year i walk around and any time i see a mountain laurel i take in a long, deep breath. Learn more about the texas mountain laurel and other low water use plants from the water use it wiselys plant of the month blog post. Note since i can only send one picture at a time i will repeat this request four separate times. A great flowering small to a mediumsized evergreen tree. Department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 11. They can be planted in full sun and tolerate partial shade as well. Texas mountain laurel is a native evergreen shrub that can be trained as a multitrunked small tree. Its multiple trunks support a disperse canopy of glossy green leaves. No foliage disease bothers the glossy, evergreen leaves. This is the story of how i discovered 3 easy ways to control texas mountain laurel pests that can quickly destroy new, tender leaf growth.
It is not troubled with most bothersome diseases and pests. Identify these diseases as quickly as possible to ensure that you can get your mountain laurel treated and. The foliage of mountain laurel can be infected by at least 14 different species of fungi and suffers from an assortment of environmentally caused leaf disorders. If your mountain laurel shrubs are infected by pests and you dont know how to repair and manage the problem, read on. The texas mountain laurel tree a great flowering desert. Leaves dropping on native texas mountain laurel in san antonio. The appropriate dose of mountain laurel depends on several factors such as the users age, health, and several other. Can anyone help identify what is occurring with my texas mountain laurel. Several established mountain laurel trees are dropping all their leaves. People are once again enjoying the large evergreen shrub that grows all over southcentral texas and is referred to as the texas mountain mt laurel. The seeds called mescal beans are a pretty orangered color and are sometimes used as necklace beads. Genista caterpillar on texas mountain laurel landscape ipm.
The texas mountain laurel, sophora secundiflora, is an excellent landscaping shrub. These natives evergreen shrub seem resistant to the dreaded cotton root rot fungus which is deadly to 90 % of all other texas landscape plants. If your mountain laurel has leaf spots or chlorotic foliage, you may be wondering, is my mountain laurel sick. Growing texas mountain laurel and coral bean from seed. We have had this problem with our texas mountain laurel for two years. Plant health care recommendations for mountain laurel. I dont see any evidence of an insect eating the leaves. This popular plant is often used as a flowering, evergreen shrub but, with time and proper pruning, it can be trained to grow as a small, multitrunked tree.
Mescal bean or texas mountain laurel is an evergreen, usually multitrunked shrub or small tree ranging from just a few feet tall to more than 30 ft. It has a narrow upright silhouette and dense foliage which lends itself well to being pruned into a tree form. In the case of mountain laurel leaf drop, fungal, environmental and cultural issues may be the cause. Decay, death of texas mountain laurels is a mystery. Remove the red seeds from the pods and scratch the surface with heavy sandpaper or a file. The texas mountain laurel calia secundiflora is wellknown for its pendulous clusters of purple, fragrant flowers that look as good as they smell. Wood of texas mountain laurel may have fungal issue. How to grow a texas mountain laurel tree home guides sf gate.
Both diseases may cause yellowing and browning of leaf tissue, as well as. Genista caterpillars occur commonly in central texas landscapes and throughout the gulf coast. It is an evergreen with thick, darkgreen foliage and a small, bushy size. Enjoy the fragrance and enjoy the beauty of a texas mountain laurel in your landscape. They germinate fairly easily in 2 4 weeks if you do a couple things. It grows slowly from 8 to 15 feet tall with a 6 to 10 foot spread. In southcentral texas, mountain laurel is commonly found on welldrained hill country limestone. This sucking insect appears in late june and in the summer on the undersides of the leaves of broadleaf evergreens like azalea, rhododendron and mountain laurel. Scarlet laurel bug on texas mountain laurel backbone. Young texas mountain laurel trees should be checked frequently for caterpillar infestations. Texas mountain laurel diseases pharmacies and medicinesca. Leaves turn yellow means soil too alkaline when acid loving plants are in soil that is too alkaline they develop a condition called chlorosis.
Informational table showing disease name, symptoms, pathogencause, and management of mountain laurel diseases. Texas mountain laurel, sophora secundiflora originally found in the hill country of texas, is a small tree with evergreen, compound leaves that bears beautiful lavenderamethyst colored clusters of pealike flowers smelling of grape koolaid with bright red seeds in a semiwoody pod. During the first year after it is planted, it can be watered. Texas mountain laurels are generally disease and pestfree, and tolerate a wide range of welldrained soils.
Watson2 introduction texas mountain laurel is a small north american native evergreen, growing 15 to 25 feet tall with a 10footspread but is capable of reaching up to 50 feet tall in its native habitat fig. These blotches frequently run together, causing heavily infected. Figuring out which is the hard part but, once you do, most fixes are fairly easy. Apr 29, 2016 2 of 5 stressed texas mountain laurel shows signs of a fungus near the base. Dec 31, 2010 the texas mountain laurel, sophora secundiflora, is an excellent landscaping shrub. We are blessed with dozens of native mountain laurel trees of various sizes that had. Leaf spot and leaf spot are fungal diseases that commonly afflict mountain laurel. Mountain laurel might change how sodium is used by cells throughout the body. Thread in the ask a question forum forum by oddmomma. The diseases s name is descriptive of the symptoms.
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