Phyllosticta species are the most common cause of brown spots on salal in western Oregon. In addition to P. pyrolae and P. vaccinii, we also see Dasyschypha sp. and Pestalopezia sp. locally, and a whole host of other fungi are found on salal elsewhere in the pacific northwest.

Phyllosticta leaf spots are nearly circular and brown with pale centers. Spots may start as a small water-soaked or pinhead-size spot. Generally, spots are only a few millimeters wide but can enlarge and coalesce. As leaves get older, they accumulate more and more spots – a lot like those in your pictures.

In contrast, spot anthracnose caused by Elsinoe ledi is grayish white with a red-brown border and purple margin.

Most fungal leaf spots are favored by weather that keeps leaves wet for extended periods of time. Cut off the infected leaves and clean up the leaf debris on and near the plants. If that doesn’t provide enough air circulation you might want to thin them out further.

The causal agents generally survive unfavorable conditions in plant debris, so dispose of the leaves in the garbage or burn pile, not in the compost.