Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Inspect the undersides of the leaves for fuzzy growth.
- Check if the plant is crowded by other shrubs.
- Look for signs of overhead watering or poor drainage.
Likely causes
Downy Mildew
Most likelyHow to tell: You will see yellow patches on the top of the leaves with a gray or white fuzzy growth underneath. This happens when the air is damp and stagnant.
What to do: Prune away the affected leaves immediately to stop the spread. Improve airflow by spacing your plants further apart and avoid getting water on the foliage when you irrigate.
Leaf Spot Fungus
Most likelyHow to tell: These appear as small brown or black circular spots that may have a yellow halo. They often show up after periods of heavy rain or overhead watering.
What to do: Remove the spotted leaves and dispose of them in the trash, not your compost. Apply a copper based fungicide if the infection continues to spread across the plant.
Find out what's wrong with your new zealand hebe
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 the spots are spreading rapidly and causing the leaves to drop, you need to act fast. A few isolated spots are common after a rainy week.
Stopping it coming back
Keep the foliage dry by watering at the base of the plant and ensure it has plenty of space for air to circulate.
New Zealand hebe: spots? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your new zealand hebe 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
- Should I cut off all the spotted leaves?
- Yes, removing infected leaves helps reduce the amount of fungus present. Just make sure to sanitize your shears with alcohol between cuts.
- Will my Hebe recover from downy mildew?
- It can recover if you catch it early and improve the growing conditions. If the plant is severely defoliated, it may struggle to bounce back.
Guides to these causes
More problems with New Zealand hebe
- Why are my New Zealand hebe leaves turning yellow?
- What are these bugs on my New Zealand hebe?
- Why is my New Zealand hebe growing so leggy?
- Why is my Hebe wilting and looking sad?
- Why are my Hebe leaf tips turning brown?
- Why is my New Zealand hebe drooping?
- Why is my New Zealand hebe losing leaves?
- Why is my New Zealand hebe not blooming?
- Why are my New Zealand hebe leaves curling?
Back to the New Zealand hebe 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.