Entomosporium leaf spot on red tip photinia

“Experienced” gardeners remember a time when you could not get away from red tip photinia shrubs in Georgia landscapes. In spring the vibrant red leaves in a photinia hedge could take your breath away. It grew everywhere! Millions of them! And because it was easy to propagate, growers pushed the shrub in sales every weekend.

But remember the music in the movie “Jaws”? The young woman was idly swimming above. Then “Da, duh………Da, duh……….Da, duh…..Da, duh…..Da, duh….Da, duh Da, duh Da, duh” and with a swish of the shark’s tail and a trail of bubbles the young woman was no more.

Much the same happened with red tip photinia shrubs in the Southeast. Their disappearance was slower than a shark attack but it was just as final. “Da, duh………Da, duh……….Da, duh…..Da, duh…..Da, duh….Da, duh Da, duh Da, duh” and entomosporium leaf spot wiped its lips with a napkin and inquired if there were other susceptible shrubs. Sure! Indian hawthorn and cleyera get leaf spot each spring.

Red tip photinia shrubs died by the millions and were hauled to the street. Gardeners know now to avoid this disease-prone plant.

So where are the remaining photinia shrubs now? The survivors are in folks’ backyards where they have rarely been pruned. They are growing on lots where the house has been demolished and the shrubs are never fertilized.

Good gardeners learned that a mono-culture of any plant can result in a calamity in the future.

See this excellent guide
Entomosporium Leaf Spot Control

spring foliage, no leaf spot