Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What's wrong with my plant? > Deciduous > Boxwood > Dead branches or branch dieback
Boxwood > Stems/branches > Dead branches or branch dieback
1 of 3
Winter injury
- Foliage is tan to bleached or even reddish to dark brown
- Branches may die back to the crown
- May be on part or all of plant
- More information on winter injury
2 of 3
Oystershell scale
Lepidosaphes ulmi
- Light to moderate infestations show little or no symptoms
- Severe infestations can cause chlorotic, stunted foliage
- Dieback and cracked bark can result from heavy infestations
- Light to dark brown, elongated, 1/10 to 1/8 inch long oyster-shell shaped scales found on bark
- More information on Oystershell Scale
3 of 3
Boxwood blight
Cylindrocladium buxicola (syn C. pseudonaviculatum)
- Round leaf spots with a tan center and dark brown edge
- White chalky looking spores on lower surface of leaf
- Dark brown to black streaks on stems
- Stem cankers can girdle and kill branches
- Rapid defoliation and twig deback, roots remain healthy
- Not currently found in MN. If suspected, call the Minnesota Department of Agriculture "Arrest the Pest" Hotline: 1-800-545-6684
- More information on boxwood blight
