Pretty much ubiquitous on them in my area. EXCEPT - R. umbellata is not so prone. If you like the look of the plant, try that one instead.

You do want a warm, sheltered spot for these, with good drainage. Not a plant for tough conditions.

My experience with that particular cultivar is that it is a sturdy little, full sun loving, parking lot shrub. Meaning that it's tough. This was in hot, humid coastal SC...zone 8b.

The disease problems always cropped up when there simply was not enough sunlight, not something that was likely to happen in the sunny south unless you planted under in partial or filtered shade conditions.

I've not had any experience with this plant out of that zone, however.

Thanks for the info! Not to officially decide what to do with my current ones.

Since you don't plan on doing anything to stop the progress of disease in your plants, then I think that you should rip 'em out and replace with something that will thrive in that specific location.

I really don't think that humid conditions are a problem for this plant, per se. But if you live in area that sees a lot of cloud cover OR if they are not located in the full sun, leaf spot diseases are likely. Overhead irrigation can be a factor, too.

I think of Rapheolepis as being practically problem free....as long as it's planted in the right place, lol. Then all bets are off.

Concur on R. umbellata 'Minor' - I use them throughout the garden as foils for other plants as they are nicely green, good shape, etc. with nice new foliage (though I think that they get bigger than I was led to believe). Not sure they'd make it in zone 7 - I think winter hardy only to about 10-15 degrees. Every R. indica that I have ever seen here is in a commercial planting, covered with leaf spot...

Thanks for the additional info--very helpful! I live in a very sunny area, but my yard doesn't have many places that are "full" sun. They will get sun, but not all day long.

If you are not going to use a fungicide maybe before you rip it out you might want to try a spray of milk with water added.