Leaf spots on speedwell and bee balm

Question: Hello, can you identify what is causing these spots on speedwell and bee balm?

responder: *Please Note: If there is mention of trade names in this response, it is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute an endorsement of one product over another, nor is discrimination intended against any product.  Thank you for contacting Ask Extension. Please contact us again with any gardening questions you may have, or call the MSUE State Hotline at 1-888-678-3464  Replied June 13, 2023, 1:03 PM EDT
response: Hello Willow, It's difficult to tell what this is from the picture you sent. I would like to see more of the plant. Also, I would like to see a close up of the spots on both the top and back sides of the leaf.   How long has this been a problem? Did you see this last year?   I think this could be Veronica rust disease – caused by the pathogen: Puccinia veronicae-longifoliae, but I could be wrong. It's important to get a specific identification because rust disease can be very destructive. What I could observe from your photos are sunken spots on the top of the leaf and what looks like pustules on the underside of the leaf, but again, they photo was not clear when I tried to enlarge it.   Please look over the following links to see if those symptoms match what you are seeing on your plants. If not, we will try to explore other causes. https://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-floriculture/photos/veronica-rust https://extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/rust-flower-garden#causes-of-rust-1169461  https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/veronica-rust-puccinia-veronicae-longifoliae Veronica rust - Integrated Pest Management (msu.edu)  Please respond to this email so that we can make the proper diagnosis.  Thank you and I'll wait for your reply and for clearer pictures.

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 13, 2023, 5:27 PM EDT
response: Hello, thank you for your response! Unfortunately I don’t have better pictures at this time, as these plants are in a perennial bed I installed for a client last year. I took the leaves to photograph when I got home, the same day I submitted the question. I will ask the client to send more pictures.  It didn’t look exactly like the pictures- there aren’t pustules, which I have seen before on snapdragons with rust if that is the same/similar rust. The spots on the leaf have made that part translucent, so when held up you can see the light through. It also was not powdery- I know the client had powdery mildew last year on her bee balm, but not the Veronica as far as I know, and they both have these leaf spots. I’ll see if I can get better pictures but that’s the information I have for how. Thank you!

responder: *Please Note: If there is mention of trade names in this response, it is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute an endorsement of one product over another, nor is discrimination intended against any product.  Thank you for contacting Ask Extension. Please contact us again with any gardening questions you may have, or call the MSUE State Hotline at 1-888-678-3464  Replied June 14, 2023, 9:33 AM EDT
response: Thanks for the reply, Willow. Just open this question again when/if you get more information.

responder: *Please Note: If there is mention of trade names in this response, it is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute an endorsement of one product over another, nor is discrimination intended against any product.  Thank you for contacting Ask Extension. Please contact us again with any gardening questions you may have, or call the MSUE State Hotline at 1-888-678-3464  Replied June 15, 2023, 7:40 PM EDT
response: Hello Willow, I just received some additional information about your bee balm and speedwell problem. The fourlined plant bug is active in the spring and could be causing the damage you see on the plants. However, this is usually not fatal to the plant. I have included two articles with pictures on the fourlined plant bug, and I believe this could be the culprit.  https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1238 https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/four-lined-plant-bugs  Let me know what you think.

responder: The Question Asker Replied June 16, 2023, 10:56 AM EDT
response: Hello,Thank you for your response!! This was what I was looking at the other day when I first started searching and it seems like it could definitely be it. I didn’t see any bugs but was only there for a few minutes. Thank you!! I think this is it. Sent from my iPhone On Jun 15, 2023, at 7:40 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿