what's wrong with this bush? - Ask Extension
Hi - this bush has been fine for several years but I just noticed it's dying back on one side and seems to be spreading. Other plants in the area ar...
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what's wrong with this bush? #869032
Asked May 18, 2024, 2:45 PM EDT
Hi - this bush has been fine for several years but I just noticed it's dying back on one side and seems to be spreading. Other plants in the area are fine. What could be wrong with it? Is it saveable?
thank you for your help!!
Washington County Oregon
Expert Response
This is commonly called a rock rose, one of the Cistus, possibly C. x purpureus. Unfortunately, I don't see evidence in these photos about the cause of the death of part of the plant. Provide a photo from further away to show the surrounding plantings, maybe that will give me a clue about what might be the issue.
Also, tell me about how it's grown. How do you irrigate it? Is there landscape fabric over the roots? Do you mulch regularly? When did it first start to fail?
These plants often get too large for their area and owners prune them back. Sometimes the plants recover well, but other times they don't recover after pruning. You might cut the dead parts off and see how the plant responds.
Another option is to cut this one down to the ground and watch for regrowth. If you remove it, take photos of how the roots appear and how they smell. If the area is very wet, root rot is a possibility.
Also, tell me about how it's grown. How do you irrigate it? Is there landscape fabric over the roots? Do you mulch regularly? When did it first start to fail?
These plants often get too large for their area and owners prune them back. Sometimes the plants recover well, but other times they don't recover after pruning. You might cut the dead parts off and see how the plant responds.
Another option is to cut this one down to the ground and watch for regrowth. If you remove it, take photos of how the roots appear and how they smell. If the area is very wet, root rot is a possibility.
Hi Jacki
Here are three more pics, two from a distance and one close up of the trunk. It's in the front of the house, facing south so it gets a lot of sun in the afternoon - if it's sunny. I water that whole bed as needed in the summer. I doubt it has root rot! Other plants in the area are fine. I don't think there is landscape fabric over the roots. There is some leaf mulch, not too much, and I think I put some bark mulch in that area a year or two ago. I'd rather not leave the soil bare I just noticed the dying part about a week ago. We have been here 6 years. I have pruned it back severely a couple of times because it does get very large. It always seems to recover well. This is the first problem with the bush that I have seen. Thank you again for your help!!
Chris Badalian
I don’t see evidence of any pest or disease issues even with these additional photos. I found gardening posts online about these plants being fairly short-lived. These are not scientific studies, but ornamental plants are not the focus of many studies, so sometimes antidotal information is the best I can find.
This is one of those “best guess” situations. I think the plant is dying for no reason or unknown reasons, and that you can replace it with a new one if you’d like.
This is one of those “best guess” situations. I think the plant is dying for no reason or unknown reasons, and that you can replace it with a new one if you’d like.