Rabbit Damage on Matcha Ball Ash Leaf Spirea - Winter - February 2025

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The (dang) rabbits are indiscriminate with their gnawing this Winter.  Beyond girdling my Belgian Fence trees, they're also eating away at the green tips of my other shrubs, including this Matcha Ball Ash Leaf Spirea.  I planted this one in Fall of 2023 and really liked the fern-like, almost Japanese-Maple-like foliage.  

Below is a picture showing the newly exposed centers of some of the branches on this shrub after they've been clipped right off by these furry pests.

Matcha Ball Ash Leaf Spirea Shrub With Rabbit Damage in Winter

This shrub came back just fine last Spring and leaf'd out.  But, then something weird happened and it struggled with (I think) drought stress.  It dropped many of its leaves.  Then...in November...it set buds that STARTED TO OPEN (eek!) just as Winter was setting in. 

Drought stress.

Confused bud burst.

Now, rabbit pressure. 

This is one to watch this Spring. 




Location: Downers Grove, IL, USA

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