Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Look closely at the undersides of the curled leaves.
- Check if the soil feels dry deeper than an inch.
- Look for a sticky residue on the leaves.
Likely causes
Aphid infestation
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see small green or black insects clustered on the undersides of leaves or on new stems. The leaves will look distorted and sticky from the honeydew they produce.
What to do: Spray the leaves with a strong stream of water from your hose to knock the aphids off. If they persist, apply insecticidal soap or neem oil every 5 to 7 days.
Water stress
PossibleHow to tell: The leaves curl inward and feel dry or brittle to the touch. This happens when the soil dries out too much between waterings.
What to do: Increase your watering frequency to every 2 to 3 days during hot spells. Ensure the soil stays consistently damp to the touch.
Find out what's wrong with your grey sallow
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 you see a heavy infestation covering most of the new growth, treat it immediately. Minor curling on a few older leaves is usually not a major concern.
Stopping it coming back
Check your plant weekly for early signs of aphids and wash them off before they multiply.
Grey sallow: curling leaves? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your grey sallow 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
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Questions people ask
- Are aphids harmful to the whole tree?
- A small number of aphids won't kill a healthy tree, but a large colony can weaken it and cause significant leaf damage.
- Should I use systemic pesticides?
- It is better to avoid them, as they can harm beneficial insects like ladybugs that naturally eat the aphids.
Guides to these causes
More problems with Grey sallow
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.