Sick Budleia

[pooh6767]

Does anyone know what is wrong with my Budleia? I am new to gardening and any help would be appreciated. I checked and cannot see any signs of bugs any where.

Mine goes like that just before it gets a massive blackfly infestation. You can spray garlic water on it and that seems to help. I've resorted to cutting off the diseased parts before though. I often it at least twice a year on both my budlea. Fingers crossed it's not made an appearance yet!

How long have you had it?

Buddleia should be cut down to the ground at this time of year anyway, which would help prevent any problems.

It looks like some sort of mildew or fungus to me, though I’ve never seen anything like it on a buddleia. I agree with PP that you should prune it hard, take out everything that seems affected and clear up any fallen leaves.

I got it in September of last year. I have it in a whiskey barrel planter.

I will definitely cut all the affected limbs off! Thank you very much. Do you think Neem oil will help kill them?

could it be frost damage?

We did get two really cold spells this winter. I live in Central Texas and that is unusual for our area. It was warm then it got really cold. It warmed back up but then it got really cold again.I covered it but maybe the second cold spell was a bit to much for it. I will give it a prune and see what happens.

Looks like powdery mildew which thrives in humid conditions. I'd prune and use a recommended fungicide. Also check it isn't under/over watered and that the planter has good drainage.

My budleia has never grown well despite having everything it could ever wish for in terms of sunlight and water. And then I look at the budleia growing really well out of the brick walls at the nearby railway station, with no access to water and little daylight.

I just want to say thank you to everyone. I gave it a good prune and cut off everything that was affected. I can already see new leaves that look normal. I am not 100% sure what the issue was, HOWEVER, I did find a lot of little black bugs and clear round eggs on my Salvia Greggii right next to it.

@pooh6767 Hi, if you ask another question again, be sure to mention that you are in Texas when you post, because this is mainly a UK site, and our climate and growing conditions are entirely different to yours. Which will make a difference to any answers you are given.

Even within the U.K. we often find it helps to say which area.