Camellia Disease - Leaf Gall

I am seeing some bizarre new growth on one of my camellias. Based on information obtained from a Clemson Ext Service document (http://hgic.clemson.edu/PDF/HGIC2053.pdf ), I believe it is Camellia Leaf Gall caused by fungus Exobasidium camelliae. According to the article I should remove and destroy effected growth before it turns hard and white as this is the stage at which spores are released - making the problem worse in future years. Unfortunately, as shown in the following pics, I already have one white "plastic" leaf. I will remove that tomorrow.

I was wondering if anyone has had experience with this problem - and might be able to provide guidance. As I "inherited" this camellia when I bought my house and am not fond of it, and as I have other camellias which i would hate to loose, I am considering destroying the entire plant.

Also, I thought this thread might serve to make others who grow camellias aware of this disease and what it looks like.

Below is a pic showing deformation of new growth. The pale green leaves are exceptionally large, thick, spungy, and contorted.

If this photo makes no sense at all to you, don't feel bad. I had to reach out and touch it because I could not figure it out (in person). The white portion is very hard. It feels like hard plastic. From the article (link above), this is the stage at which spores are released. The white things are leaves - believe it or not.

Whatever it is, you can keep it down there in the Low Country! We have enough problems up here already.

Guy S.

"Low Country"? Hmm. Now how would someone from IL know our alias? Or did the Clemson doc give it away?

Now what could you have up there to compare with a "bug" that turns leaves into contorted, white plastic?

Guy, we have temps that never get low enough to kill off the "critters" big or small, summer temps that soar to 100F plus, and near 100% humidity. This is just one big crock-pot, perfect for brewing all manner of scarey stuff.

The Clemson doc said I should try to keep the leaves dry. That's funny! From now until mid October the air will be so water logged we won't be able to tell the difference between walking and swimming.

Wow. don't ever recall seeing that on camellias, though there's a similar gall that we used to encounter all the time on the azaleas, back home in LA(lower Alabama). We just picked 'em off as they appeared and put 'em in the garbage can. Some years they were worse than others, but never bad enough that hand-picking wasn't adequate to keep 'em under control.

Interesting, very interesting. I've never seen anything even remotely similar to that on any of my plants so I have no experience at all with what you have there. I read a little bit about Exobasidium camelliae. Big yuckie is about all I can say if that's what you have. I'm not convinced based on your images that is what you are dealing with, however my vote would be for removing and burning the entire plant that is infected. Either that or bag it and toss it out with your regular garbage. I'm nervous around plants that have the potential to infect other plants hanging out in such close proximity. Regardless of whether you choose to destroy the plant or merely to destroy only those parts of the plant that are affected, disinfect your tools. Dip them in a mild bleach solution or spray them with Lysol but don't use them again without sanitizing them with something.

If I had a camellia like that I would throw the whole thing in a bonfire and start over from scratch.