Cercospora leaf spot: A common culprit in the Louisiana garden

  • Crape myrtles are staples of Louisiana landscapes. This time of year, they often are affected by a disease called Cercospora leaf spot.
    Crape myrtles are staples of Louisiana landscapes. This time of year, they often are affected by a disease called Cercospora leaf spot.
  • Cercospora leaf spot causes dark spots and defoliation on hydrangeas.
    Cercospora leaf spot causes dark spots and defoliation on hydrangeas.
  • Cercospora leaf spot causes premature fall color and leaf drop in crape myrtles.
    Cercospora leaf spot causes premature fall color and leaf drop in crape myrtles.
    Take a look outside, and you might see that your crape myrtle’s leaves are turning shades of yellow, orange and red and falling to the ground. Is this a sign that autumn is near?Not quite. This time of year, it’s more likely you are witnessing something called Cercospora leaf spot.“This is a very common disease we see late in the summer on crape myrtles,” said Clark Robert...

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