Multiple problems with buddleia?

Hi Everyone,

I inherited two old buddleia, this is the second summer I have had them.

I was renovating the house last year, so didn't pay much attention to them, but now I can see that on both plants there are leaves with holes (possibly leaf cutter bees?) but more worryingly quite a lot of the leaves look like the chlorophyll has been stripped?

Googling it comes back with possibly Downey Mildew, but I can't see any 'mould-like growth' on the underside of the leaves, so am stumped.

Any ideas please? Many thanks in advance.

 

The discoloured leaves looks like aphid damage. I've seen this quite a lot this year on my own buddleia, which isn't normal for them. It looks a little unsightly but next year if we get a cold winter it probably won't be a problem.
The holes aren't leaf cutter bees but it's not something I would worry about either.

 

Many thanks @Thevictorian that is really useful.

 

I think it's got a virus (probably passed-on by aphids) and Downy mildew - pic 3 shows a good example of that. The distorted leaf in pic 2 makes me think virus. Both are common, and pruning may help, but it's the cool, damp conditions that cause DM. Left alone, it'll probably be fine next year (assuming the weather is better!)

 

Thank you @BobTG I hadn't thought about a virus

I did prune it late this year, so that might not have helped it's overall health. Will monitor it this year and see what happens next year

 

The leaves on one of ours are very much like that but the other is perfectly OK.

 

Thank you @KT53 although I am sorry you have some as well, it is reassuring that it's not just me!

 

Mine have this as well. Not going to get any flowers at all this year I think, and for the first time ever. I thought they were bomb proof

 

Oh gosh @Emerion I hadn't even thought about whether they would flower or not, so sad if they don't. I have some small ones that have self seeded around the garden with flower buds on, I was going to let them flower before I removed them, they might be the only flowers I get this year then

 

Mine are showing the same symptoms and they are all flowering.

 

That’s good @Escarpment. Mine would normally be in full bloom by now, but don’t even have the beginnings of buds, and look very sorry for themselves.

 

The lesions are definitely aphid damage, most likely Aphis verbasci. It's been a problem nationwide this year, and we in the Buddleja world are hoping it's not going to be a recurring issue. You won't always see the aphids, as the population turns over very quickly. Encourage predators and the problem will disappear in the new leaves.
Virus in Buddleja looks very different - either spindley growth or evenly mottled leaves without lesions (cucumber mosaic is the most common).
The holes in the last photo should not present much of an issue. Thrips, caterpillars or even slugs could be responsible.

 

Thank you for sharing that @Escarpment , fingers crossed they are still going to flower, I did prune them late, so still a few weeks until I will be able to tell.

 

Brilliant @The Buddleja Garden thank you so much, that is really helpful. I am planting to make my garden as wildlife friendly as possible, but apart from lots of birds, I haven't seen many Ladybirds, Lacewings so far that will predate on aphids, but hopefully they will come in the future

 

I have a row of 6-7 buddleia down our allotment which were just seedlings that sprung up elsewhere. They are now large plants that have reached 10-12 feet this year from a waist high cutback in the spring. It's funny because I was just down there and one has completely disfigured leaves and no signs of flowers yet but the others are flowering and looking pretty good. I also have a few large and dwarf type buddleja at home and only one is completely covered in aphid damaged leaves and the others are mostly or completely fine. I don't know if it's that some are more susceptible to aphids or just a random coincidence.