24+ Azalea Leaf Gall

If you have weird looking growths on your azaleas those unusual bumps are called azalea leaf galls which are eruptions in the plant tissue. This despicable condition of leaf gall in azalea shrubs is mainly caused by the fungus exobasidium vaccinii.

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Azalea leaf gall

Unlike many galls that appear on woody plants and trees leaf gall on azaleas is caused by the fungus exobasidium vaccinii a wind borne fungus that can overwinter on bark and within buds. You ll most often see azalea leaf gall appear in wet springs or on azaleas that are planted in corners or massed in tight groupings. However in most cases the condition will always turn brown.

The fungus also makes crazy looking growths appear on flowers and foliage alike. Leaf gall is an unsightly condition in azalea shrubs caused by the fungus exobasidium vaccinii. It is a fungus that infects the growth of your azalea causing damage to leaves flowers buds or stems.

The disease starts out with a few leaves getting thick and waxy and usually a bright green in color. Other fungi in this genus affect camellias blueberry and rhododendron. The azalea leaf gall could be light green white pink or brown.

Azalea leaf gall is a disease that usually looks worse than it actually is. Over time they turn whitish with disease spores accumulating. The disease is also called pinkster gall or pinkster apple because it affects the wild pinkster azalea rhododendron periclymenoides.

I am given to understand that early pioneers would pickle the galls with spices and vinegar and enjoy them as a delicacy. What causes azalea leaf gall. This fungus infects young spring growth and causes the leaves flowers buds or stems to become distorted and misshapen with fleshy bladder like growths.

Princeton Nature Notes May 2018