Crape Myrte - Knowledgebase Question

Crescent city, Fl
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Question by eagleswings7
April 10, 2010
Why does my crape myrtle start to bloom then the bark and the flowers turn black??


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Answer from NGA
April 10, 2010
It sounds like sooty mold, which is not a disease but the results of insect feeding. When aphids feed they excrete a sitcky substance called honeydew. The sugar content of this excrement is just high enough to encourage fungal growth which is the black that you see on the bark and flowers. If you eliminate the insects, the sooty mold will weather away. Insecticidal soap sprays are effective against aphids. Good luck with your crape myrtle!

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