Indian Hawthorn Rust: Juniper Connection and Fungicide Schedule

Mottled Leaves + Rusty Spots = Gymnosporangium Rust

Your Indian hawthorn has hawthorn rust, a fungus that alternates between hawthorn and juniper. If there’s a juniper nearby, it’s the alternate host.

Management

• Remove nearby junipers if feasible (breaks the cycle).
• Or spray fungicides in spring: Ferbam, triforine, chlorothalonil, myclobutanil, or triadimefon. Start at bud break/juniper telial horn emergence; repeat 7-10 days until late May.
• Captan and benomyl are not effective on rust.

Heavy infection causes twig dieback and premature leaf drop—early prevention is key.