Skip to content
Pocket Botanist
Get the app

Mountain Laurel · Kalmia latifolia

Why does my Mountain Laurel have yellow stippling?

If you notice tiny yellow dots or stippling on the top of your leaves, you likely have lace bugs. These small insects hide on the underside of the foliage and suck out the plant juices.

pests on a plant
Photo: Jules Verne Times Two, CC BY-SA 4.0

Check these first

  1. Turn over the leaves to look for tiny insects.
  2. Check for fine webbing between the stems.
  3. Look for small black spots of excrement on the leaf undersides.

Likely causes

  1. Lace Bugs

    Most likely

    How to tell: Look for small, lace-like insects and dark, sticky droppings on the underside of the leaves. The top of the leaf will look mottled or yellow.

    What to do: Spray the underside of the leaves with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Repeat the treatment every 7 to 10 days until the bugs are gone. Make sure to coat the undersides thoroughly.

  2. Spider Mites

    Possible

    How to tell: You might see very fine webbing between the leaves or stems. The leaves will look pale and dusty before turning yellow.

    What to do: Blast the foliage with a strong stream of water to knock the mites off. Keep the plant well-watered, as mites prefer dry, stressed plants. Apply horticultural oil if the infestation persists.

When to worry

Worry if the entire plant starts looking pale or if the leaves begin to drop. A few bugs are manageable, but a heavy infestation can weaken the plant significantly.

Stopping it coming back

Keep your Mountain Laurel healthy with consistent water, as stressed plants are much more attractive to pests.

Not sure which one it is? Photograph your mountain laurel.

This page lists the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at your actual leaf and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free

Questions people ask

Can I just pick the bugs off?
Lace bugs are too small and numerous for hand-picking to be effective. Insecticidal soap is the best approach.
Will these bugs kill my plant?
They rarely kill a healthy plant, but they can make it look very unsightly and reduce its vigor over time.

More problems with Mountain Laurel

Back to the Mountain Laurel guide

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.