Extension > Garden > Diagnose a problem > What's wrong with my plant? > Deciduous > Hydrangea > Curled, cupped or distorted leaves
Hydrangea > Leaves > Curled, cupped or distorted leaves
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Plant Growth Regulator Herbicide Injury
(2,4-D, Dicamba, etc.)
- Leaves, stems, and petioles are twisted, distorted, and/or cupped
- Leaves may appear thick and leathery with parallel veins
- Youngest tissue at branch ends affected
- Distorted growth accompanied by or followed by leaves that turn brown or yellow
- More information on plant growth regulator herbicide injury
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Non-selective herbicide injury
(Round-up, Kleen-up, and other glyphosate products)
- Yellowing, wilting, browning leaves and eventual death of foliage and plants
- Damage usually appears first in new tissues
- Shrubs sprayed during the summer or fall may not have noticeable injury until the following season when leaves appear as stunted, narrow, strap-like, and chlorotic
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Hydrangea Chlorotic Mottle Virus (HCMV)
- Light green, green and yellow mottling on leaves
- Reddening and curling or deformation of leaf tissue
- Symptoms most visible in spring and fall
- Infects only cultivars of Hydrangea macrophylla
