HomeRaspberriesRaspberries: Leaves are curled, rolled or crinkled

Raspberries: Leaves are curled, rolled or crinkled

Leaf curling can be caused by many factors:

Aphids transmit several viruses to raspberries. The main vector of raspberry mosaic complex in North America is the large raspberry aphid (Amphorophora agathonica).

Large green aphid with obovate body and tapered bottom. Next to adult are 4 immature aphids.
Large raspberry aphid (Amphorophora agathonica) is a major transmitter of raspberry mosaic virus complex.

Raspberry leaf curl virus is transmitted by the small raspberry aphid (Aphis rubicola).

Mircoscopic image of mature, round-bodied aphid with black eyes. Aphid is shaped like a stinkbug. Immature aphid on left of image is pill-shaped and has red eyes.
Small raspberry aphid (Aphis rubicola) is a vector of raspberry leaf curl virus.

Aphids may also cause the petioles of leaves to twist and curl when they feed on them. More raspberry aphid information.

Blackberry psyllid, (Trioza tripunctata), causes severe curling on both thornless and thorny blackberries. Psyllid damage is often mistaken for a plant disease since the curling continues for some time after the insects are gone.

Raspberry leaf with extreme curling and crimping.

Raspberry leaf that is severely crimped inwards and S-shaped from curling. Nearby leaves have similar crimping on sides, but appear flat and healthy in other areas.

Psyllid damage is only a problem when blackberries are grown in close proximity to conifers, which serve as an overwintering site for adults. More blackberry psyllid information

Leafhoppers cause the upper leaves of primocanes to curl up, develop a yellowish cast, and reduce their growth.

Small, green, wingless insect with white eyes and froglike legs with prominent bed at the knees.
Potato Leaf Hopper nymph
Small green insect with white eyes and translucent wings that lie straight on its back.
Potato leafhopper adult.
Raspberry leaves with crinkling along central veins. Crinkling gives leaves a pinched appearance. Margins of leaves are pale and yellowish.
Potato leafhopper damage on ‘Heritage’ red raspberry
Raspberry leaves that are slightly crinkled along veins. There are small, yellow patches on leaves with smooth transition back to healthy green color.
Potato leafhopper damage on raspberry.

More raspberry potato leafhopper information

Leafrollers affect raspberries as well as strawberries and blueberries.

Above view of orange-brown moth on leaf. Moth does not have any distinctive patterns and has tortiseshell color.
Adult leafroller.
Rolled leaf with multi-layered folds of leaf. Inside of the most central fold, there is a green, inchworm-like larva. Some webbing surrounds the larva inside the rolled leaf.
Leafroller larva.

More raspberry leafroller information

Herbicide drift from some materials will cause leaves to curl, such as 2,4-D …

Raspberry branch tip with wavy, curled leaves. Leaves are curled inwards and appear slightly twisted. Leaves of all ages are similarly twisted and curled.
2,4-D injury on raspberry.

… Solicam…

Raspberry leaf with lines of necrotic tissue traveling parallel to veins. Leaf margins are necrotic. Necrotic tissue is dark brown.
Solicam (norflurazon) injury on raspberry.

… Banvel …

Raspberry with stunted growth of new leaves. Older leaves appear healthy. New leaves are not fully unfurled and have mottled appearance with closely-alternating dark green and yellow patches.
Banvel (dicamba) herbicide injury on raspberry.

… and Roundup.

Stunted raspberry plant with malformed and discolored leaves. Leaves are yellow with pink margins and green veins. Leaves are curled upwards and appear shrunken.
Roundup (glyphosate) injury on raspberry.

Viruses – Raspberry Mosaic Virus and Leaf Curl Virus are common causes of leaf crinkling. Usually crinkling is accompanied with yellowing.

Raspberry plant with downward-cupped, crinkled leaves. Leaves have some yellowing on leaf margins and beside veins.

More raspberry virus information