Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Inspect the leaves for fuzzy white growth or dark spots.
- Check if the soil is staying too wet for too long.
- Look for signs of poor airflow around the plant.
Likely causes
Leaf Spot Disease
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see small brown or black spots that might have a yellow halo around them. These spots often appear after periods of high humidity or rain.
What to do: Remove the infected leaves immediately to stop the spread. Improve air circulation around the plant by thinning out dense growth.
Powdery Mildew
PossibleHow to tell: This looks like a white, dusty coating on the surface of the leaves. It thrives in stagnant, humid air.
What to do: Wipe the leaves with a damp cloth to remove the spores. Ensure the plant is in a spot with better airflow to keep the foliage dry.
Find out what's wrong with your ground ivy
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
Worry if the spots cover more than half of the leaf surface or if the plant starts losing leaves rapidly. Small, isolated spots are usually manageable with pruning.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the foliage dry when watering and ensure there is plenty of space between plants for air to move.
Ground Ivy: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your ground ivy 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
- Will these spots kill my ground ivy?
- Usually no, but they can weaken the plant and make it look unsightly. Early intervention keeps it healthy.
- Should I use a fungicide?
- It is rarely necessary for ground ivy. Improving airflow and removing infected leaves is almost always enough.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Ground Ivy
- Why is my ground ivy looking so leggy?
- Why is my ground ivy drooping?
- Why are my Ground Ivy leaves turning yellow?
- How do I fix root rot in my Ground Ivy?
- Why are my Ground Ivy leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my ground ivy losing its leaves?
- What are these bugs on my ground ivy?
- Why are my ground ivy leaves curling up?
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.