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Wisteria Leaf Curl?

pete-wardpete-ward Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Hi - for the 2nd year in a row, my very well established (at least 15 years) and large Japanese Wisteria has leaf curl, which started about mid-May. The leaves curl up and shrivel. It can't be lack of water becauase we've had a lot of rain in the UK. The plant covers two aspects of the house, on the side facing the lawn it has hardly flowered and the leaf curl is worse (and was so also last year). On the other side facing the driveway, it is flowering abundantly and much less leaf curl. Both aspects get similar amounts of sunshine.
 
I can't find anything similar online to explain what is wrong. Once the leaf curl has set in, new leaves grow malformed, missing the leaves as shown in the 3rd pic. Please can somene advise what is wrong and how to treat / prevent it? Photos attached. 

Thanks in advance!

Posts

  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527
    Have you got anymore pictures. One of branches and the base of the plant. Which way does the most affected side face north - east etc. Is the growth stunted or still vigorous later in the season? 
  • pete-wardpete-ward Posts: 4


    Thanks for responding. Growth is still vigorous as normal, but new leaves are malformed as per the pics. The leaves don’t actually grow properly and at times you just get the ‘veins’ with no leaf as if the leaf has been eaten… not sure if eaten or just growing malformed. I certainly can’t see any insects / aphids / scale etc…
    The most affected aspect facing the lawn is south-west facing, the other is south-east. Both get decent sunshine. I don’t think it’s an aspect thing as we’ve been here 10 years and this problem only started last year…. More pics added.
  • PerkiPerki Posts: 2,527
    Its difficult to say the cause I can't see anything above ground which could be a possibility like scale insect - virus - graft failure . It looks to me something to do with the roots it possible it maybe getting to much water, roots gone into a water pipe / land drain ? I cant see it being phytophthora root rot if the plant is still vigorous but it may be worth having a look round the base of the plant scrapping back the soil see if everything ok .

  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Perki Cumbria Wisteria hold a National Collection. If the issues are weather related they may be able to offer advice. They do have a website.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Pete- ward Sorry this message was for you. @Perki has as always offered very good advice.
    There is some damage at the base, which I have seen before on Wisteria but otherwise it seemed happy enough. If that is where the worst of the leaf curl is perhaps that is the problem. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • pete-wardpete-ward Posts: 4
    Thanks both for your input. 
    I’m certain it’s not weather related. 
    There is some old damage around the base but that’s been there a long time… the leaf curling is all over the plant even right at the top.

    I read elsewhere that SB Plant Invigorator is a good all purpose natural pest remedy, so I sprayed that all over both wisterias yesterday. I’ll report back in due course with an update on whether that helped or not. 

    In the meantime if anyone has any other ideas on what the issue might be please let me know!
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @pete-ward I would try the National Collection holder if you are still concerned. Part of their interest will be the health of all wisteria plants. A reference to this thread might be helpful to them.

    I have seen splits at the base as I have said, if the sap is not rising properly this is another possibility. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • pete-wardpete-ward Posts: 4
    I’ll contact them tomorrow.

    The weird thing is when this happened last year it got better after about 6 weeks and new growth became normal again, as it was initially this year.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @pete-ward That is something I would mention, holders of National Collections are always very knowledable on their subject.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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