Odd Growth on Azalea Stems? Check for Herbicide Damage

Your friend's azalea has a bizarre cluster of tiny, distorted leaves on one stem—a "witches' broom" look that signals something went wrong. The most likely culprit: glyphosate (Roundup) drift.

What Glyphosate Damage Looks Like on Azaleas

Azaleas are extremely sensitive to glyphosate. Even minor drift from nearby weed spraying causes:

• Stunted, narrow, clustered leaves (rosette growth)
• Chlorosis (yellowing) on new growth
• Stem dieback above the affected area
• Symptoms appearing weeks after exposure

I saw this firsthand on my raspberries after a careless spray day—the resemblance is unmistakable.

Can the Plant Recover?

Possibly. If the exposure was light, the plant may outgrow it. Prune out the affected stems cleanly and watch for normal growth next spring. Avoid fertilizing—stress + nitrogen = more stress. Mulch, water during dry spells, and hope the root system took minimal hit.

Prevention Is Simple

Never spray glyphosate near desirable broadleaf plants on windy days. Use a shielded sprayer or, better yet, hand-pull weeds in azalea beds. The cost of a few minutes' weeding is far less than replacing a mature azalea.