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Red spots on gaura

HeyawcHeyawc Posts: 34
in Plants
I was away for two weeks for holiday and when I’m back I found the Gaura whirling butterflies in the my south facing garden covered with these red spots all over its leaves! I read online that Gaura is generally pest and disease free. The spots also do not look like what the purple spots some people describe as normal reactions to cool weather. It does not appear to be moving, so I suppose it may not be pests? Could that be fungus? It’s more severe near the bottom. The flowers seem to be blooming quite well at the moment though. What can I do with it?

Posts

  • HeyawcHeyawc Posts: 34
    Here are the photos


  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I think it's Gaura Rust.
    Some info here-
    https://laplantpath.wordpress.com/2012/07/16/gaura-rust/gaura-rust-2b/

    Copper-based fungicides are banned in the UK

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • HeyawcHeyawc Posts: 34
    Thank you for the advice! Just check it out on gaura rust. It does look similar…
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I think if it were mine, I'd just leave it and hope it doesn't return next year, and if it does, replace the gaura with something else.
    I grow G.The Bride (easy from seed) and find it self-seeds here and there, so there are always spare plants available for me to move about.
    It seems happiest in really poor, stony, dry ground

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • HeyawcHeyawc Posts: 34
    Did not know it likes poor dry ground! The blooms look fine so I may just leave it as it is. Was worried that it may spread to other plants but so far it appears to flourish on the gaura only …
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I think it's unlikely to spread to other plants.
    Most types of rust only affect one or 2 species afaik and there's a good chance it won't reappear next year - hopefully

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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