Pocket BotanistCheck these first
- Feel the soil to see if it is bone dry.
- Inspect the undersides of leaves for fungal spots.
- Check the drainage holes to ensure water is not pooling.
Likely causes
Drought stress
Most likelyHow to tell: The soil feels dry to the touch and the leaves look brittle before falling off. This happens when the plant goes more than 5 days without a thorough soak.
What to do: Water the plant deeply until water runs out of the drainage holes. Maintain a schedule of watering every 2 to 5 days to keep the soil consistently damp.
Willow anthracnose
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see dark, irregular spots on the leaves before they drop prematurely. This fungal infection often spreads during periods of high humidity or poor airflow.
What to do: Prune away all infected branches to stop the spread. Improve air circulation around the plant and avoid getting water on the leaves when you irrigate.
Find out what's wrong with your eared willow
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
It is normal for a few leaves to drop during seasonal transitions. Be concerned if the leaf loss is rapid or involves more than half the canopy.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the soil consistently moist and provide plenty of space between plants to ensure good airflow.
Eared willow: leaf drop? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your eared willow 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
- Will my willow grow its leaves back?
- Yes, if the underlying cause like drought or fungus is addressed, the plant will push out new growth during the active season.
- Should I fertilize a willow that is losing leaves?
- No, avoid fertilizing a stressed plant as it can burn the roots. Wait until the plant shows signs of recovery before adding any nutrients.
Guides to these causes
More problems with eared willow
- Why does my eared willow have dark spots on its leaves?
- Why are there tiny bugs on my eared willow?
- Why is my eared willow drooping?
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Back to the eared willow 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.