Olive Leaf Spot (Peacock Spot, Peacock's Eye)

You'll see olive leaf spot as peacock-shaped lesions on olive foliage, caused by the fungus Spilocea oleagina. This disease is primarily a concern in olive production areas. Remove and destroy infected leaves and rake up fallen foliage in autumn. Mow or flail debris to enhance decomposition of fallen leaves. Apply urea to leaves after leaf fall to promote decomposition and reduce overwintering inoculum.

Leaf spot and blotch diseases are primarily cosmetic on established plants, though repeated years of heavy infection can weaken them. Rake up and remove fallen leaves to reduce the spore load going into the next season. Avoid overhead watering that splashes spores from the ground onto lower leaves. If the problem is severe, protective fungicide sprays during spring leaf emergence can help, but sanitation does more than chemistry for most leaf spots.