WSU Extension

Hortsense

Common Cultural : Morphological changes
(revision date: 4/30/2013)


Use Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for successful plant problem management.

Biology
Plant parts may significantly change as a juvenile (seedling) progresses to the adult (flowering/fruiting) stage of growth. Some of the more dramatic changes exhibited by plants include winter leaf retention of deciduous plants (oak, beech, etc.), change of leaf shape (English holly), and the transition of needle-like to scale-like leaves on junipers and false cypresses. Variegated plants may revert to their all-green form, and vice versa. Morphological changes are healthy and natural stages of plant development
Management Options

Non-Chemical Management
  • None
Select non-chemical management options as your first choice!

Chemical Management
IMPORTANT: Visit Home and Garden Fact Sheets for more information on using pesticides

None recommended

Images
    - hide images

+ Show larger images

 
Caption: Changing from needle-like to scale-like leaves
Photo by: R. Maleike
Caption: White spruce transition of needle form
Photo by: R. Maleike