Question
QUESTION: I live in southeast NC. I & my neighbors have some kind of reddish/purple powder like substance on the leaves of most of our plants. ie: spider lily, crape myrtle hydrangea. Can you help?
Thank you, Jim

ANSWER: James:
Since this is occurring on several unrelated plants, I would be inclined to think it was not a fungus, rather some sort of "residue" of sorts.  Will the material wash or rub off? If so, it is some type of residue. Have these plants been sprayed with anything? If you wish, you can send along a closeup photo of a leaf or two with this substance on them.  Review your image on your computer first- to be sure it is in focus before sending it.
Steve

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leaves   QUESTION: Please find photo of material. It does wash off.The plants haven't been sprayed.

Answer
James:
See this bulletin I have prepared on Sooty Mold.  You will need to have a free program on your computer called Adobe Reader to open/view it. The program is readily available on the internet- just Google it.


http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publications/PDF/FSA-7555.pdf

Steve