What is Iron Chlorosis and What Causes It?
by Michael Kuhns, Extension Forestry Specialist, and Rich Koenig, Extension Soils Specialist Note: See Preventing and Treating Iron Chlorosis in Trees and Shrubs (click on link) for information on chlorosis treatment. What Is It? Iron chlorosis is a yellowing of plant leaves caused by iron deficiency that affects many desirable landscape plants in Utah. The primary symptom of iron deficiency is interveinal chlorosis, the development of a yellow leaf with a network of dark green veins. In severe cases, the entire leaf turns yellow or white and the outer edges may scorch and turn brown as the plant cells die. It is common for an individual branch or one half of a tree to be chlorotic while the remainder of the tree appears normal. In some areas vegetation from the entire landscape may be affected, while in others only the most susceptible plants show deficiency symptoms. Yellow leaves indicate a lack of chlorophyll, the green pigment responsible for photosynthesis (sugar production) in p
