Sooty Mold on Camellia Caused by Scale Insects

Sheila's 'Black Rose' camellia has black sooty powder on leaves with some frost-damaged curling. Melissa identifies scale insects (or possibly aphids) feeding on sap and excreting honeydew, which fuels sooty mold growth.

Treatment

• Spray thoroughly with horticultural oil (SunSpray preferred) on a sunny day—top and bottom of leaves, stems, trunk.
• Repeat every 7–10 days until scales drop off (they never move, so falling off confirms death).
• Oil also loosens sooty mold, which will flake away.

Not a quick fix, but effective. Camellias are frequent scale targets.