Marianne's Response

Climbing star jasmine with whitish, waxy leaves

I have a climbing star jasmine plant that is in a large planter on my deck in northern California. I’ve had it for two years and it’s been doing well, but over the past year the leaves have developed a whitish, waxy coloring. The leaves don’t die, but they look quite different from what they used to.

There are also some brown “mounds” that I’ve found on a handful of leaves that might indicate some sort of insect, but I only found 4 or 5 of them on the whole large plant, so I have no idea if that’s connected or not.

I’ve attached a couple of pictures of the leaves, which include a comparison between affected and unaffected leaves.

I’m at my wits end, please help me!

Thanks!
Dina

Posted by Dina Lawrence on May 2, 2016

Marianne's Response

Thank you for sending the photo - I do see the damaged foliage but also notice healthy new growth so because you say the star jasmine is doing well, I do not suggest you take any action. The old foliage could be showing winter stress or a foliar infection that can only invade old weak leaves. Continue to care or your jasmine as you have in the past and enjoy your fragrant vine. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti

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