Skip to main content

Florida 4-H Forest Ecology

Florida 4-H Forest Ecology

Tar Spot: Identifying Characteristics

Identifying the injury: Shiny black, roughly circular spots with raised surfaces on affected leaves. Later in the season, "spots" may fall out of leaves leaving holes.
Identifying the pathogen: The black spots are actually the fungal reproductive structures (stroma) and contain tiny, microscopic spores.
Susceptible trees: Mostly maples, willows and hollies in Florida.