Boxwood Disease? - Ask Extension
I saw someone else just posted something similar with their boxwood but I didn’t find the answer helpful. My boxwood leaves are turning yellow and b...
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Boxwood Disease? #874743
Asked June 26, 2024, 8:27 AM EDT
I saw someone else just posted something similar with their boxwood but I didn’t find the answer helpful. My boxwood leaves are turning yellow and brown and falling off. My first thought was boxwood blight, but the symptoms don’t seem to quite match. From what I read there are often black streaks on the stems with blight, which I don’t see, and it tends to kill the leaves from the bottom up. Most of the infected leaves on my plant are on the top. What other disease or issue could this be?
Midland County Michigan
Expert Response
Hello,
Because I see lesions on the leaves that are concentric circles and some with yellow halos, I recommend sending a sample into MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostic lab. They will be able to give you a definitive diagnosis that cannot be done with a photo. Keep in mind that plants can take time to develop symptoms, and not all plants will have identical symptoms, so blight is a possibility in my mind. To send in a sample, go to: https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/submit-samples/
Samples can also be dropped off in person if you are close by.
Here is an article about boxwood blight:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/home_gardening/uploads/files/2019_msue_fact%20sheet_boxwood_blight_final.pdf
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.
Ruth
Because I see lesions on the leaves that are concentric circles and some with yellow halos, I recommend sending a sample into MSU Plant and Pest Diagnostic lab. They will be able to give you a definitive diagnosis that cannot be done with a photo. Keep in mind that plants can take time to develop symptoms, and not all plants will have identical symptoms, so blight is a possibility in my mind. To send in a sample, go to: https://www.canr.msu.edu/pestid/submit-samples/
Samples can also be dropped off in person if you are close by.
Here is an article about boxwood blight:
https://www.canr.msu.edu/home_gardening/uploads/files/2019_msue_fact%20sheet_boxwood_blight_final.pdf
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension.
Ruth
