Black tips on Nellie Steven’s Holly and Oregon Grape. Very damaged Hydrangea - Ask Extension
1. Nelly Stevens about 20 years old. This late winter lost almost half of its leaves which turned yellow. No new leaves coming up. Instead black tips...
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Black tips on Nellie Steven’s Holly and Oregon Grape. Very damaged Hydrangea #930693
Asked May 05, 2026, 1:29 PM EDT
1. Nelly Stevens about 20 years old. This late winter lost almost half of its leaves which turned yellow. No new leaves coming up. Instead black tips!
2. Oregon grape about 10 years old. Not looking healthy. Again tips have turned black
3. Have four hydrangeas in different spots. All not looking healthy from very bad to not so bad.
Uploaded pictures from all three but I’m not able to tell if the pictures did upload.
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi,
This is frost/freeze damage. Most of Maryland was hit recently with low temperatures that damaged many of our landscape plants. Healthy plants should recover and put out new leaves, but it can take a few weeks. We have seen certain species like Hydrangea hit very hard from this. The holly and the mohonia must have just put out new growth that hadn't hardened off yet when the frost hit. The affected leaves will eventaully wither, dry up, and fall off.
In the meantime monitor for watering needs since the plants will need ample root moisture to produce new growth and we have in a sustained drought throughout Maryland due to insufficient rian fall since 2024.
Emily
