black leaves on holly shrubs - Ask Extension
Good evening, we have two large holly shrubs that are about 30 years old. They have been very low maintenance, however, recently, a blight of black l...
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black leaves on holly shrubs #929717
Asked April 26, 2026, 9:51 PM EDT
Good evening, we have two large holly shrubs that are about 30 years old. They have been very low maintenance, however, recently, a blight of black leaves has suddenly appeared, and it seems to be moving rather quickly throughout the shrubs. Attached are photos. Can you please help identify and advise if this can be treated? Thank you very much.
Montgomery County Maryland
Expert Response
This is damage from the frost/freeze that much of Maryland experienced last week. Hardy plants do not retain their freeze tolerance once they have broken dormancy and begun to produce new growth, which is why temperature swings between very mild days and cold snaps in spring can be very damaging. We've received many inquiries about such damage on a variety of tree, shrub, and perennial species that had begun to grow or leaf-out when the we had a freeze overnight.
Nothing can heal the injured tissues, but healthy and well-established plants usually have enough energy reserves to produce new growth, though it may take them a few weeks to start to look normal again. It would be best to wait to see how the plant fares, and only trim branch tips if they remain bare (having no new growth) once the rest of the shrub leafs-out again to replace the killed tip growth. The singed leaves will eventually fall off on their own as they dry out.
We are still in a worsening drought, carried over from the past two years of insufficient rain. It would reduce plant stress to monitor them for watering needs and irrigate them periodically as needed. The linked page has watering guidance. Producing new growth requires ample root moisture, and the process can be hindered or stalled if a plant is too drought-stressed.
Miri
Nothing can heal the injured tissues, but healthy and well-established plants usually have enough energy reserves to produce new growth, though it may take them a few weeks to start to look normal again. It would be best to wait to see how the plant fares, and only trim branch tips if they remain bare (having no new growth) once the rest of the shrub leafs-out again to replace the killed tip growth. The singed leaves will eventually fall off on their own as they dry out.
We are still in a worsening drought, carried over from the past two years of insufficient rain. It would reduce plant stress to monitor them for watering needs and irrigate them periodically as needed. The linked page has watering guidance. Producing new growth requires ample root moisture, and the process can be hindered or stalled if a plant is too drought-stressed.
Miri
