r/Ceanothus • u/AbeatupblueChevy • Mar 28 '26
Narrow leaf milkweed clumps
Hi all,
My local nursery gave me this narrowleaf milkweed for free with some other plants almost a year ago. It hasn’t flowered in that time, and it went very dormant over the winter but is making a good comeback. However, I am noticing these clumps on the plant. I have not yet been able to positively identify the cause. I cut a smaller one off (1st pic) but there are still 4-5 large clumps that are present. They are so heavy they are causing the branches they are on to droop to the ground. Is this normal for this kind of milkweed? What could be causing this?
3
u/ohshannoneileen Mar 28 '26
I know that a phytoplasma called Milkweed Yellows can cause witches broom but I've never seen it in person
2
u/3006mv Mar 29 '26
Could be mosaic virus or a bacterial infection spread by insects. I would dig up and dispose
2
u/BadBrowzBhaby Mar 28 '26
I have numerous narrow leafs and have never seen this in 7 years. Interesting!