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Monday - May 04, 2009
From: Boston, MA
Region: Northeast
Topic: Shrubs
Title: Identifcation of strange orange growth on shrubs
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have found a strange orange ball shape with softer spikes about 1-2 in. growing from it on my shrubs, they grow around the branch. I believe they are Yews. I have never seen them before but now there are 2 baseball sized ones and a few starting. The bush was trimmed a week ago but they are growing a few inches into the bush. I do have a few pictures. PS they are located in Cape Cod MAANSWER:
This sounds like the fungal disease Cedar-Apple Rust (Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae) that is a serious problem for apples since it can defoliate the tree and affect fruit quality, but causes few problems for junipers and cedars except cosmetic ones. The orange structures with spikes are called telia and occur only on the cedars/junipers and produce spores that infect the apple host. The spores produced on the leaves of the apple infect the cedars/junipers. Here are more photos and information from Oklahoma State University, Colorado State University, and Cornell University.
If this is not what you found on your tree, please send us your photos and we will do our best to identify these growths. Visit Mr. Smarty Plants' Plant Identification page to read instructions on submitting photos.
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