Chitalpa Tree Mildew: Spray Early, Not Late

A chitalpa (catalpa × chilopsis hybrid) drops pale leaves mid-summer after blooming. Powdery mildew is the likely culprit, but fungicide applied after leaf drop is too late—the infection starts in spring.

Spray with Immunox or another labeled fungicide beginning in April, before symptoms appear. Chitalpa is uncommon in the Southeast partly because of this susceptibility.