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white meadowsweet · Spiraea alba

Why are my Spiraea alba leaf tips turning brown?

Brown tips are less common for this plant and typically happen when the plant is not getting enough water during hot spells. Check the soil moisture first to see if the plant is thirsty.

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Check these first

  1. Touch the soil to see if it is dry and crumbly.
  2. Check the weather forecast for recent heat or dry spells.
  3. Look at the soil surface for any white crusty residue.

Likely causes

  1. Drought stress

    Most likely

    How to tell: The tips of the leaves turn brown and crispy during hot, dry weather. The rest of the leaf may also feel dry to the touch.

    What to do: Increase your watering frequency to every 5 days during heat waves. Apply a 2 inch layer of mulch around the base to hold moisture in the soil.

  2. Salt buildup

    Possible

    How to tell: The tips turn brown even when the soil feels moist. This can happen if you use too much fertilizer or if your water is very hard.

    What to do: Flush the soil with plenty of fresh water to wash away excess salts. Avoid over fertilizing and stick to a light application in the spring.

Brown tips on other plants

Find out what's wrong with your white meadowsweet

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 the plant to show some stress during extreme summer heat. Worry if the brown tips are accompanied by wilting that does not recover overnight.

Stopping it coming back

Keep the soil consistently moist and protect the roots with a good layer of organic mulch.

White meadowsweet: brown tips? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your white meadowsweet 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.

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Questions people ask

Can I trim the brown tips off?
You can trim them for appearance, but be careful not to cut into the healthy green tissue. Just snip the brown part.
Does this mean I need to fertilize more?
No, adding more fertilizer can actually make brown tips worse. Focus on water and mulch first.

Guides to these causes

More problems with white meadowsweet

Back to the white meadowsweet 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.