My American beautyberry bush has whole stems dying at a time with no sign of insect infestation. Any ideas on what may be causing this? Thanks! Dot


Post was from a year ago - butterfly bush is doing fine. Thanks for all the responses!

dotbryant4!

I am sorry I do not have an answer to your question. Someone should be along soon with more knowledge than I.

It could be Cucumber Mosaic Virus. You don't show what state you live in. It would help to know that. And welcome to ATP!

Look at this link: http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/Hort/G...

Following

your beauty berry sounds like it might be too dry but just in case I would cut the dying limb out water & feed and see how it does. I live in South Georgia and I spray them with weed killer to get rid of them.

I am in Virginia. Looked at the site suggested but not sure that's the problem. I will spray for aphids in case they are causing problems, although I haven't actually seen any. Here's a closeup of my beautyberry leaves where I hope you can see the wilt - no discoloration, just wilt along the whole stalk.

Did you trace that stem all the way to its base, to see if maybe there was damage of some sort below the wilted leaves? A chewing critter of some kind girdling the stem could cause a whole stem to wilt suddenly like that. Or somebody getting too close to it with the string trimmer?

If no sign of damage, then yes, cutting off the affected stems at the bases might help prevent the problem from spreading.

@OldGardener may be able to help you. I don't think it's mosaic because the leaves aren't really mottled. I'm sure someone can help you. We sure don't want you to lose your plant.

Thanks for all the responses - I cut out the wilting branches and sprayed the rest with Neem Oil (insecticide/fungicide/miticide). Keep your fingers crossed for me!
Dot

Hope you'll poke around and find some more forums that might interest you.

Beautyberry likes a lot of water, so if your soil is dry that could be the problem.

We've had lots of water - thunderstorms almost every day. But before that we were watering it regularly.

Well, maybe too much water then, that can happen as well.

yes that might be a factor!

I'm a new member and found this question in my search for an answer to my own beautyberry wilt problem -- very same situation. Has anyone found an answer?

I don't know what is the problem, but if it is wilting it probably need water, Beautyberries like a lot of water in hot weather.

mcibj

I only grew them once and they did not survive over winter for me.