Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Look for a white dusty coating on the leaves.
- Check if the leaves are staying wet for too long.
- Inspect the spacing between your plants.
Likely causes
Powdery mildew
Most likelyHow to tell: A white, powdery fungal growth appears on the surface of the leaves.
What to do: Improve air circulation by spacing plants further apart. Apply a neem oil spray or a mixture of water and baking soda to the affected areas.
Leaf spot disease
PossibleHow to tell: Dark or brown spots appear on the foliage, often with a yellow halo.
What to do: Remove the infected leaves to prevent the spread. Avoid overhead watering to keep the foliage dry.
Find out what's wrong with your common boneset
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.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
If the spots cover most of the foliage and cause leaves to fall off, the plant is in trouble. A few small spots are manageable with proper care.
Stopping it coming back
Water at the base of the plant rather than over the leaves and ensure good airflow.
Common boneset: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your common boneset 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.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Is powdery mildew fatal?
- It is rarely fatal but can weaken the plant and make it look unsightly.
- Should I cut off spotted leaves?
- Yes, removing heavily infected leaves helps stop the disease from spreading to healthy parts of the plant.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Common boneset
- Why is my common boneset drooping?
- Why is my common boneset growing so leggy?
- Why are my boneset's leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my boneset's leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my boneset losing its leaves?
- Why is my Eupatorium perfoliatum not blooming?
- What are these bugs on my Eupatorium perfoliatum?
- Why are my Eupatorium perfoliatum leaves curling?
Back to the Common boneset 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.