Hosts
Phyllosticta hamamelidis often causes leaf blight on the witchhazels.
Witchhazel Leaf Spot
Pathogen Type
Scientific Name
Phyllosticta hamamelidis
Frequency
4
Severity
3
Symptoms
Spots tend to be irregular brown shaped spots with purplish edges on the upper leaf surface. At the same time, there is a lighter brown spot on the lower surface. Spots may merge to cause larger brown dead areas (blight) that can encompass the entire leaf. This disease tends to make witchhazel an undesirable, up-close landscape plant.
Cycle
The pathogen overwinters on dead plant material. It is spread to new plant tissue by wind and rain.
Management
Follow good sanitation practices.
Credit
James E. Schuster, retired Extension Specialist, Horticulture & Plant Pathology, University of Illinois
PathogenID
54