Holes in hydrangea leaves can be so frustrating, especially when your plants usually look so healthy. In Texas, a few different pests and conditions are often to blame.
I’ve spent seasons figuring out what’s causing the damage in my own garden. Here are 10 common reasons your hydrangea leaves might be full of holes and what’s happening behind the scenes.
1. Japanese Beetles
These metallic green pests love feasting on hydrangea leaves during hot Texas summers. They skeletonize foliage by eating the tissue between leaf veins.
In the Lone Star State, Japanese beetles typically emerge in late May through August. Their distinctive feeding pattern creates lacy, see-through areas before progressing to complete holes.
2. Caterpillars
Hungry caterpillars munch through hydrangea leaves with impressive speed. Look for ragged edges and irregular holes, often accompanied by tiny black droppings on lower leaves.
Texas gardens host several caterpillar species that target hydrangeas, especially during spring. Their feeding typically starts at leaf edges before creating larger interior holes.
3. Grasshoppers
During dry Texas summers, grasshoppers become particularly problematic for hydrangea owners. They create large, irregular holes and can defoliate entire sections when populations surge.
Unlike some pests, grasshoppers feed during daylight hours, making them easier to spot. Their strong jaws easily tear through hydrangea leaves, leaving jagged-edged holes throughout.
4. Four-lined Plant Bugs
These distinctive yellow-green insects with four black stripes create unique damage patterns. They pierce leaves and suck out cellular content, creating small round holes that later enlarge.
Many Texas gardeners mistake their damage for fungal problems. The bugs are most active during cooler morning hours in late spring, moving quickly when disturbed.
5. Slugs and Snails
These nocturnal mollusks thrive in humid East Texas gardens, leaving behind distinctive slime trails alongside irregular holes. They prefer tender new growth and hide during daylight hours.
After Texas rainstorms, slug and snail damage often increases dramatically. Their rasping mouthparts create smooth-edged holes that differ from the jagged damage caused by insects.
6. Leafcutter Bees
Unlike most garden pests, leafcutter bees are actually beneficial pollinators! They remove perfectly circular pieces from leaf edges to line their nests.
Throughout Texas, these industrious bees are active from spring through fall. Their distinctive half-moon cuts along leaf margins won’t harm your hydrangea’s overall health, despite the cosmetic damage.
7. Hail Damage
Texas spring storms often bring hail that punches clean holes through hydrangea leaves. The damage appears suddenly after storms and creates uniform-sized holes across multiple plants.
Unlike insect damage, hail-damaged leaves show no signs of feeding or chewing. The holes typically appear in straight lines across leaves as hailstones strike during windy conditions.
8. Leaf Spot Disease
Fungal leaf spot starts as brown or purple spots that eventually drop out, creating hole-like symptoms. Texas’s humidity creates perfect conditions for this disease to thrive and spread.
The spots often have purple or red margins before the centers die and fall away. Unlike insect damage, these holes develop gradually and are usually surrounded by discolored tissue.
9. Hydrangea Leaftier
This specialized caterpillar ties leaves together with silk, then feeds inside its leafy shelter. The damage looks different from other pests—leaves appear stitched together before showing holes.
Throughout central Texas, leaftiers emerge in spring and can produce multiple generations. When you pull apart the tied leaves, you’ll often find the small green caterpillar still hiding inside.
10. Deer Browsing
Texas deer populations love tender hydrangea leaves, especially in drought years when natural food is scarce. Unlike insect damage, deer leave behind jagged tears and often consume entire leaf sections.
Suburban areas throughout the state face increasing deer pressure. The damage typically occurs overnight and appears higher on the plant, with clear hoof prints or droppings often visible nearby.