Have you noticed Crape Myrtles turning black? What about the plants around them? In case you’re wondering.. It’s not normal or healthy. Thankfully, it can be fixed! This black mold/mildew is the result of armored scale and their bathroom habits. Armored scale is an insect that lives and feeds on the tree. After doing business it drops on any plant material below. After a short time, it turns into the unsightly black mold.