A fungal disease that grows on plants and other surfaces covered by honeydew, a sticky substance created by certain insects. Sooty mold’s name comes from the dark threadlike growth (mycelium) of the fungi resembling a layer of soot. Sooty mold is a frequent problem on the leaves of many evergreen shrubs including Azaleas, Camellias, Laurels, and Gardenias. It can also be a problem on deciduous trees and shrubs including Crepe Myrtles, Chinese Elms, Hollies, Silver Maples, or Sugarberries, or on plants growing beneath any of these plants. You may also see black sooty mold on walls, sidewalks, fences, automobiles, or almost anything else that has dropped from plants above them.