Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Saturday - August 22, 2009
From: Oakdale, CT
Region: Northeast
Topic: Diseases and Disorders
Title: Growth on underside of squash plant leaves
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have a mold in my garden that is oval in shape and has spikes growing out of it, the color is yellow. This mold (yup it's not a bug I checked) is all over the underside of my squash plants. Any help or direction would be great.ANSWER:
Mr. Smarty Plants found several good sites describing diseases and pests of the squash plant and its relatives. Here are a couple of them: Common Squash Problems and Assorted Foliar Diseases of Cucurbits. Alternaria leaf spot and Mosaic are the closest matches I could find, but there is nothing I could find that exactly matched your description. It might help us a little to know how large these areas are in diameter and how thick they are. If the Alternaria leaf spot or the Mosaic is not what you are seeing (and I'm doubtful that it is), please send us photos of these yellow spiky growths on your squash leaves and we will do our best to identify them? Visit Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page for instructions on submitting photographs.
More Diseases and Disorders Questions
Live oaks dropping brown leaves
August 02, 2014 - We have three live oaks and one of them has been dropping quite a few brown leaves over the past two weeks. I looked at pictures of trees with oak wilt and ours do not look like the pictures. I als...
view the full question and answer
Mildew and rot in navel orange tree in California
September 02, 2008 - I have a great navel orange tree that seems to have two problems. One of them looks like powdery mildew and the other is some kind of black rot. I have sprayed it several times to no avail. I live ...
view the full question and answer
Mutation in bluebonnets from Elgin TX
April 16, 2013 - What causes bluebonnets to mutate..grow as if three or four are combined into one flower on one very flat, wide stem. I have these in my yard; they are beautiful! I have taken several pictures.
view the full question and answer
Black fungus on cholla cactus from Austin
March 25, 2012 - How to get rid of black fungus on cholla cactus? Cut it off? And treat with what?
view the full question and answer
Problems with Eastern hemlock in Greenville SC
July 02, 2009 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants,
I have a beautiful, young, 5 and a half foot tall Eastern Hemlock. I purchased and planted it two years ago in the fall. It has been doing very well all this spring. And ne...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |