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Help! White sticky substance on shrub leaves
David Reid
Posts: 6
Hello,
Does anyone know what this white substance is growing on my evergreen shrubs.
in the first instance, some leaves are covered in white powdery substance, which could include the branches. however I also noticed the substance is sticky/gooey on other leaves.
My mother-in-law says it's a beetle of some kind.
Thanks.
0
Posts
Two different things.
The first looks like some sort of powdery mildew, often arising when plants are suffering from drought. Give them a jolly good soaking.
The second is colloquially known as Cuckoo Spit as it occurs about the time the cuckoo arrives here. Inside each little lump of foam you'll find a single froghopper larva - it won't damage your plants and will feed the wild birds. Nothing to worry about.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thank you kindly for your prompt response.
I will definitely give the shrub a drink!
In your first picture David, the white powdery covering on the leaves looks like mildew. On your second picture the little blobs of white froth are the protective covering formed by a little creature called a Froghopper nymph. This is commonly known as Cuckoo Spit. when the adults emerge they are the best jumpers in the insect world. They are not really a plant pest as such but if you don't like the 'froth' just wash it off with your hose.
The centre of the shrub looks a bit congested ... I would snip out some of the older stems and any dead ones, getting a bit of air flow in there too.
Last edited: 16 May 2017 12:52:35
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Snap Dove.
Will do, and many thanks too LadyBird.
You are most welcome David