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My azaleas have patches of purple leaves and/or bare branches, should I be concerned? [SOLVED]
(mander.xyz)
EDIT:
Looks like my azaleas have lace bugs and mites. They need to be trimmed anyway, so I'll give 'em a haircut and go from there. Thanks for everyone's input.
ORIGINAL POST:
Row of azaleas on the northwest side of my house (mid-Atlantic region of the US). We've had some rain, but I have not watered them manually at all since I moved here in the fall of last year. Previous owners were far more attentive to their plants than I've been, but I'm looking to make amends. These azaleas have mostly green foliage w/ patches of purple leaves and/or bare branches. Should I be concerned or is this typical of azaleas? Are they underwatered?
Close-up of purple leaves:
Mites. You have mites.
It’s a species that snuck into the US recently. Bad infestations can kill plants, and even mild ones make them look bad. The purple is a stress response.
A lot of landscapers in my area are recommending people pivot away from rhododendrons and azaleas because of how annoying this mite is.
I recommend a hard-hitting systemic mitacide. They’re not native so they don’t have real predators here; the lacewings try but they’re too small and sneaky.
If you want to ditch the azaleas but grow something similar looking, try Kalmia latifolia. It’s a distant cousin of rhodies, but the mite doesn’t seem to like it.