Photinia leaf spot? - Ask Extension
Can you confirm if this is photinia leaf spot and whether these plants can be saved? There are three photinias, fairly close together and the middle p...
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Photinia leaf spot? #934056
Asked June 03, 2026, 4:01 PM EDT
Can you confirm if this is photinia leaf spot and whether these plants can be saved? There are three photinias, fairly close together and the middle plant has lost all leaves. The other two plants have lost half of their leaves so far.
Will copper fungicide help these plants survive at this point or will it be a continuous maintenance issue and the plants will slowly weaken and die?
There is full sun part of the day, part shade in the afternoon. If you can recommend alternative plants that could be planted in that same area that would not be impacted by this fungal disease it would be greatly appreciated!
Howard County Maryland
Expert Response
It's hard to see clearly in the photos, but yes, this does appear to be Photinia Leaf Spot, a very common fungal disease. You can probably salvage the plants if you wanted to spray them with fungicide (it has to thoroughly coat all the foliage, so their height might be an issue) several times per year, every year. It's too late to treat now, as there is no (or not enough) healthy foliage left to protect with a fungicide spray, but you can rake away any fallen foliage and, if desired, pruned the shrubs shorter and thin-out some crowded branches for better airflow. Take note that, as mentioned in the linked page, copper-based fungicides have a limit on how many times they can be used per year, because you don't want to have copper build up in the soil to levels toxic to roots. If untreated, continued defoliation from heavy infection may weaken the shrubs to the point where other stresses (like drought or different infections) might cause branch dieback or even kill them.
If you replace the photinia, keep in mind that every shrub can contract a disease in the right conditions (wet weather is more conducive to leaf infections than drier weather, so each year could be different), it just may not be the same disease that photinia gets if the shrub isn't in the same plant family (the rose family, Rosaceae). Infections and insect pests are a fact of life for every plant, but some are more damaging than others, and a lot of their vulnerability depends on factors like weather, plant genetics, and how well the plant is matched to the site conditions it prefers (to minimize stress).
In order to offer some suggestions for replacement plants, we'd need more information. Your mention of part sun/part shade is helpful, but what is the mature size you'd prefer the new plants stay (with minimal pruning, not relying on regular pruning to keep them smaller)? Does the soil drain well, stay wet for awhile after heavy rain, or skew dry? Do deer browse in the yard? Did the new plants need to be evergreen, or are deciduous options okay? Did you prefer they be native?
Miri
If you replace the photinia, keep in mind that every shrub can contract a disease in the right conditions (wet weather is more conducive to leaf infections than drier weather, so each year could be different), it just may not be the same disease that photinia gets if the shrub isn't in the same plant family (the rose family, Rosaceae). Infections and insect pests are a fact of life for every plant, but some are more damaging than others, and a lot of their vulnerability depends on factors like weather, plant genetics, and how well the plant is matched to the site conditions it prefers (to minimize stress).
In order to offer some suggestions for replacement plants, we'd need more information. Your mention of part sun/part shade is helpful, but what is the mature size you'd prefer the new plants stay (with minimal pruning, not relying on regular pruning to keep them smaller)? Does the soil drain well, stay wet for awhile after heavy rain, or skew dry? Do deer browse in the yard? Did the new plants need to be evergreen, or are deciduous options okay? Did you prefer they be native?
Miri
