Silver Leaf

Garden Problems

Silver leaf is a fungal pathogen that infects a wide range of woody trees and shrubs. Leaves turn silver and infected branches die back.

Identify the problem
Silver leaf disease causes leaves of woody trees and shrubs to turn silvery. Roses, apples, peaches, plums, apricots, poplars, willows, and escallonia are commonly infected.
Infected branches die back and when the branch dies small fruiting bodies appear as brackets on the dead wood.
How to solve the problem
- Remove and burn or bin the affected leaves and any badly affected branches. Use a tree wound dressing to stop the spores getting in at cuts. Check surrounding hedges and other shrubs/trees for silvered trees and silver leaf fruiting bodies and remove and burn. Avoid pruning in wet weather when the risk of silver leaf infecting wounds is much greater. Prune in summer or early autumn if possible, when the weather is warm and dry. This is because silver leaf fruiting bodies release spores during cooler, wetter periods.
Did you know?
- Silver leaf disease is caused by the fungus Chondrostereum purpureum