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Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What's wrong with my plant? > Annuals and Perennials > Geranium > Discolored leaves

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Geranium > Leaves > Discolored leaves

1 of 3
  • Bacterial leaf blight 1
  • Bacterial leaf blight 2
  • Bacterial leaf blight 3

Bacterial Leaf Blight
Xanthomonas hortorum pv. pelargonii
(syn. X. campestris pv. pelargonii)

  • Round water-soaked spots become tan to brown sunken spots, 1/8 to ¼ inch in diameter
  • Leaf spots grow into water-soaked, brown, V-shaped lesions with a yellow border.
  • Leaves wilt, turn yellow, than brown. May remain attached to the plant for a week or more
  • In severe cases, stems shrivel and turn brown or black
  • Common during periods of warm, moist weather
  • More information on Bacterial Leaf Blight
2 of 3
  • Gray mold leaf 1
  • Gray mold leaf 2
  • Gray mold flowers 3

Gray Mold
Botrytis cinerea

  • Brown spots on leaves with concentric brown rings like a bull’s eye
  • Leaf spots can expand to form large brown angular lesions and eventually blight the entire leaf
  • Brown blossoms or petals; flowers drop off prematurely
  • Gray fuzzy mold develops on rotted tissue under humid conditions
  • Disease develops during  cool, wet weather
  • More information on Gray Mold
3 of 3
  • Plant virus 1
  • Plant virus 2

Viruses
Cucumber mosaic virus, Impatiens necrotic spot virus, Pelargonium flower break, and Tomato spotted wilt virus

  • Leaves may be mottled, deformed, discolored, or have yellow rings
  • Leaf veins may turn yellow
  • Flowers and leaves may be small or distorted
  • Plant may be stunted
  • Lab test needed to identify which virus is causing the problem
  • More information on viruses

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