Twisted leaves - black cherry. Why?

ScottinAtlanta · August 26, 2012

My black cherry has developed leaves that twist downward under the stem - and meeting underneath as if they are high-fiving. It is not wilt - the leaf stems are strong, just curling downward. What causes this?

lakelady · August 26, 2012

I think I recall reading that stress can cause leaf curling. I had over pruned a Sandul Moldovan plant and it had leaf curl forever, but still continued to produce good fruits. Heat stress?

bower · September 1, 2012

I've seen this too on Black Cherry, with no clear cause other than probable stress of some (or various) kind, including, maybe, the need for stronger supports.

This plant has "prehensile" foliage afaict, and will wrap individual leaflet stems tightly around a rope or wire to hang on - like a pea tendril does. I noticed this because it is a PIA when you go to remove a bad leaf, and find it gripped tightly to the supports.

August 26, 2012	#2
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	I think I recall reading that stress can cause leaf curling. I had over pruned a Sandul Moldovan plant and it had leaf curl forever, but still continued to produce good fruits. Heat stress? __________________ Antoniette

September 1, 2012	#3
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	I've seen this too on Black Cherry, with no clear cause other than probable stress of some (or various) kind, including, maybe, the need for stronger supports. This plant has "prehensile" foliage afaict, and will wrap individual leaflet stems tightly around a rope or wire to hang on - like a pea tendril does. I noticed this because it is a PIA when you go to remove a bad leaf, and find it gripped tightly to the supports.