Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Inspect the underside of the curled leaves for small insects.
- Check if the curling happens only during the hottest part of the day.
- Look for dark lesions that might indicate an anthracnose infection.
Likely causes
Tea Mosquito Bug
Most likelyHow to tell: Young leaves and shoots show distorted, curled growth with small dark spots. You may see tiny insects feeding on the tender new tissue.
What to do: Prune away the heavily infested shoots to stop the spread. Apply a mild neem oil spray to the affected areas every 7 days until the bugs are gone.
Heat Stress
PossibleHow to tell: Leaves curl inward during the hottest part of the day to conserve moisture. The edges may look slightly crispy or brown.
What to do: Provide a light shade cloth during the peak afternoon heat if temperatures exceed 95 degrees. Ensure the tree is watered deeply to keep the root zone hydrated.
Find out what's wrong with your cashew
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
Curling is serious if the new growth is stunted and covered in pests. If the leaves curl only during a heatwave and flatten out at night, the tree is just protecting itself.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the tree healthy and well watered to discourage pests. Regularly inspect new shoots for early signs of insect activity.
Keep your cashew healthy from here
Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked. Identification and a health check are free.
Questions people ask
- Will the leaves uncurl?
- Once a leaf is physically distorted or curled by pests, it will not return to its original shape. Focus on protecting the new, healthy growth that emerges after treatment.
- Is curling a sign of disease?
- Sometimes curling is associated with anthracnose, which causes dark lesions. If you see spots along with the curling, treat the tree with a copper based fungicide.
More problems with Cashew
- Why does my cashew tree have dark spots on its leaves?
- What is eating my cashew tree?
- Why are my cashew tree leaves turning yellow?
- Why do my cashew tree leaves have brown tips?
- Why is my cashew tree drooping?
- Why is my cashew tree dropping its leaves?
- Why is my cashew tree not flowering?
- How do I fix root rot in my cashew tree?
This article was generated with AI from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.