Why do inkberry leaves curl in?

Anthracnose is the reason why inkberry leaves curl inward. The appearance of the fungal disease in question around heavy rainfall events and supplementary irrigation leaves black, tar-like leaf spots, curled, distorted leaves, die-back and girdled branches and twigs from cankers. There tends to be little in the way of management and prevention other than fertilizing inkberry (Ilex glabra) during non-rainy spring months, pruning affected plant parts, removing ground litter and treating with chlorothalonil or thiophanate-methyl fungicides in late spring.