Chitalpa tree – Mildew

Q: I have a chitalpa tree (cross between a catalpa and chilopsis) that has been in the ground about 2 1/2 years.

About mid-summer each year, after it has bloomed it has a bad leaf drop. They turn a rather pale color and fall. They are not brown or dead looking.

I did notice the beginning of what appeared to be mildew last year and I sprayed a couple of times with a fungicide, but that didn’t seem to help. Any thoughts?

A: Where did you get your tree? It isn’t common in the Southeast.

Chitalpa is known to be susceptible to powdery mildew – – and since the mildew infects leaves in spring, rather than later, when you notice the leaf drop, you should spray regularly with Immunox beginning in April.

  • Advertisement