Symptom Library
Why Do My Plant Leaves Have Holes?
A hole tells you tissue is missing, but not why. Fresh feeding, slugs, caterpillars, beetles, physical damage, and dead lesion centers can all leave openings that look similar from a distance.
What this symptom means
Holes are most useful when you inspect the edges and look for evidence around them. Fresh ragged feeding means something different from a brown or spotted area whose center later dropped out.
What to notice first
- Fresh green or ragged edges versus dry dead margins
- Insects, larvae, droppings, slime trails, or feeding at night
- Whether spots or lesions appeared before the holes
- Whether damage is continuing on new leaves
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Do not do this yet
- Do not spray from the hole alone.
- Do not remove every damaged leaf if the plant still has useful healthy tissue.
- Do not assume all missing tissue is active insect feeding.
Choose the plant-specific owner
Start with the closest match.
Primary matches own this visible symptom. Related-clue matches mention it as part of a broader diagnostic pattern, so use them only when the page title and plant fit what you are seeing.
Vegetables · Cucumbers
Why do my cucumber leaves have holes?
Identify cucumber beetle feeding and other causes of chewed leaves.
Open plant-specific answerVegetables · Peppers
Why do my pepper leaves have holes?
Match hole size, edges, and pest evidence before treating pepper leaves.
Open plant-specific answerFlowers · Roses
Why do my rose leaves have holes?
Match rose leaf holes to the feeding pattern before treating.
Open plant-specific answerVegetables · Tomatoes
Why do my tomato leaves have holes?
Match tomato leaf damage to the feeding or lesion pattern before treating.
Open plant-specific answerNot sure yet?
Search the exact plant and symptom together.
A phrase such as “tomato yellow leaves” or “rose holes in leaves” is usually more useful than treating a generic symptom in isolation.
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