Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Examine the leaves for tunneling or blotches.
- Look for small spots with dark borders.
- Check if the spots are on new or old growth.
Likely causes
Boxwood Leafminer
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see yellow or orange blotches on the leaves where the larvae are tunneling inside. If you hold the leaf up to the light, you might see the small larvae moving.
What to do: Prune away heavily infested branches in early spring before the adults emerge. You can also apply a systemic insecticide in late spring to target the larvae.
Fungal Leaf Spot
Most likelyHow to tell: Small brown or tan spots appear on the leaves, often with a darker border. These spots can grow and cause the leaf to wither.
What to do: Remove infected leaves and keep the area around the base clean of debris. Apply a copper based fungicide if the spotting continues to spread.
Find out what's wrong with your boxwood
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
If the spots cover most of the foliage and cause premature leaf drop, it is a serious issue. Small, isolated spots are usually manageable with basic hygiene.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the foliage dry by watering at the soil level rather than over the top. Clean up fallen leaves from the ground to remove fungal spores.
Keep your boxwood 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
- Can I just pick off the spotted leaves?
- Yes, for minor cases, picking off affected leaves is a great way to stop the spread. Make sure to dispose of them in the trash, not the compost.
- Are these spots harmful to other plants?
- Most boxwood specific pests and diseases stay on the boxwood. However, it is best to isolate the plant to be safe.
More problems with Boxwood
- Why are my Common Boxwood leaves turning yellow?
- How do I know if my Common Boxwood has pests?
- Why is my boxwood losing its leaves?
- Why do my Common Boxwood leaves have brown tips?
- Why is my boxwood drooping?
- Why is my boxwood showing signs of root rot?
- Why is my boxwood growing leggy and sparse?
- Why are my boxwood leaves curling?
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.