What is growing on my camellia? - Ask Extension
What are these white patches in the back of my camellia leaves? Do they need to be treated?
The shrubs do not seem to be affected.
Knowledgebase
What is growing on my camellia? #759834
Asked July 03, 2021, 3:50 PM EDT
What are these white patches in the back of my camellia leaves? Do they need to be treated?
The shrubs do not seem to be affected.
Calvert County Maryland
Expert Response
Hi there, that appears to be Cottony camellia scale (Pulvinaria floccifera). You do not need to treat them, however if you start to notice dark spots that look like sooty mold, July is a good time of year to treat them because the beneficial Hyperaspis lady beetles that feast on the camellia scale will have left for their aestivating sites. Your local garden center should have a good selection of pesticides that will work on this scale.
For more information please go to:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/cottony-camellia-scale-shrubs
