Crape Myrtle Leaf Spot

What it looks like

Small, irregular brown spots (about the size of a pencil eraser) show up on the older, lower leaves first. Leaves around the spots turn yellow, and by late summer heavily affected trees can lose a good portion of their leaves.

Often mistaken for: Other leaf spot or fungal diseases on crape myrtle

When it shows up in the Triangle

Shows up mid-summer into fall in the Triangle, typically from mid-July through September.

Where you’ll see it

Affects crape myrtles in home landscapes, especially varieties that are more prone to it.

What you can do

• Choose more resistant crape myrtle varieties when planting new trees
• Prune to open up the canopy and improve airflow
• Rake up and dispose of fallen leaves instead of leaving them under the tree
• Avoid overhead watering that keeps leaves wet
• Keep trees healthy overall with good watering and light feeding so they can tolerate some leaf loss