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Check these first
- Inspect the undersides of the leaves for spores.
- Clear away all dead leaves from the ground beneath the shrub.
- Check if there are juniper bushes growing within a few hundred feet.
Likely causes
Entomosporium leaf spot
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see small, reddish brown spots that eventually turn gray in the center. These spots often appear after periods of high humidity or heavy rain.
What to do: Remove and destroy all fallen leaves around the base of the plant to stop the fungus from spreading. Prune out any heavily infected branches to improve airflow through the canopy.
Cedar serviceberry rust
PossibleHow to tell: This fungus causes bright orange spots on the leaves and orange, spiky, tube like growths on the fruit. It often happens if you have juniper trees nearby.
What to do: Prune away infected twigs and fruit as soon as you see them. If the infection is severe, consider applying a copper based fungicide in early spring before the buds open.
Find out what's wrong with your saskatoon serviceberry
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
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When to worry
It is serious if the spots cover most of the foliage and cause premature leaf drop. A few spots here and there are normal for an outdoor plant.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the area under your shrub clean and ensure it has enough space for air to circulate between branches.
Saskatoon serviceberry: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your saskatoon serviceberry and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
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Questions people ask
- Will these spots kill my tree?
- Usually no, but they can weaken the plant over time. Keeping the area clean is your best defense.
- Should I spray my tree with fungicide?
- Only if the infection is widespread. Cultural practices like pruning and cleaning up debris are much safer and often just as effective.
More problems with Saskatoon serviceberry
- Why are there bugs on my Saskatoon serviceberry?
- Why are my serviceberry leaves curling?
- Why is my Saskatoon serviceberry not flowering?
- Why are my serviceberry leaves turning yellow?
- Why is my Saskatoon serviceberry drooping?
- Why is my Saskatoon serviceberry losing leaves?
- Why does my Saskatoon serviceberry have root rot?
- Why are the tips of my serviceberry leaves turning brown?
Back to the Saskatoon serviceberry guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.