By J_turner
United States 
My escallonia hedge has recovered from almost dying last year and now has strong bright green growth. I have lightly pruned it but all the leaves are sticky, no bugs on them top or bottom. Should I worry ?
22 Jul, 2013
Answers
Thanks,
It's looking good this year - just waiting for the flowers now.
23 Jul, 2013
If I recall correctly its common name is Chilean gum, no doubt due to the sticky, herbal-smelling leaves. Mine looked terrible in winter too as it got hit really hard with blackspot/leaf loss/snow but you'd never know it now.
23 Jul, 2013
Escallonia's like that, the new growth has that stickiness which is nature's suncream/skin salve/insect repellent.
22 Jul, 2013