Strawberry tree leaf spot

Also known simply as spot anthracnose, this disease infects strawberry trees.

Symptoms are the presence of brown spots with a red or purple perimeter on leaves.

There are several strands of this disease, but all can be treated in the same manner.

This fungus will spread until all the leaves are contaminated. Leaves will drop off.

Strawberry tree leaf spot

How to fight leaf spot

• Preventive care – At the end of winter, spray Bordeaux mixture 2 to 3 times, at a two-week interval.
• Curative care – As soon as the fungus appears, collect fallen leaves, burn them or dispose of them in a place that won’t risk contaminating your plants.
  Spray with a mancozeb or myclobutanil based solution, which are fungicides sold in horticulture stores.

What causes spots on strawberry tree leaves?

Spots are round, purple and spread on both leaves and twigs

You’re dealing with the more severe of these fungus, Elsinoë mattiroloanum. It’s quite aggressive and must be taken care of quickly.

Spots are a blend of brown and purple and are oblong in shape

This is an infection by Ruptoseptoria unedonis.

Spots are brown with reddish edges and are of a roundish shape

This is a variant that is most common in British Columbia, in Canada. It’s name is Didymosporium arbuticola Zeller.

These three fungus spread most when the weather is warm.

Read also

On the topic of strawberry trees

• Tips on growing strawberry trees

Other diseases and treatments related to leaf spot

• Black spots on leaves and how to treat them organically
• Fermented tea, use nature to heal nature
• Treatments against fruit tree pests and diseases
• Treat against scab and other fungus and insect infections

Credits for images shared to Nature & Garden (all edits by Gaspard Lorthiois):
Infected strawberry tree leaf and fruit by Luc Coekaerts under Public Domain
Single leaf by Al Funk, Canadian Natural Resources, Canadian Forestry Service, Laurentides Forestry Center