Explore Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
Can't find the answer in our existing FAQs, submit a question to Mr. Smarty Plants.
Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.
rate this answer
Saturday - April 24, 2010
From: Culleoka, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Diseases and Disorders
Title: Juniper-apple rust galls
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
I have Red Cedar trees in my yard. I have just noticed something that looks like a reddish brown squid-like bloom about the size of a small orange. Is this normal or is it a fungus?ANSWER:
This sounds like a gall caused by a fungus called cedar (or juniper) apple rust (Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae) that requires two hosts—the Juniperus virginiana (eastern redcedar) and an apple or crabapple tree—to complete its lifecycle. It doesn't really cause any substantial harm to the cedar tree but can affect the fruits of the apple or crabapple and also cause leaves to fall from the trees. You can read about more control measures for the cedar apple rust from the Missouri Botanical Garden.
More Diseases and Disorders Questions
Are Ashe Junipers dying from mite damage in Austin?
August 08, 2011 - If Ashe Juniper needles are turning brown and dropping off the trees because of drought, and not disease, do the needles ever come back, or have the tree limbs died? What if the cause is mites, not ...
view the full question and answer
Fasciation on Texas Mountain Laurel
November 21, 2012 - Do Texas Mountain Laurel normally have a staghorn looking growth hanging on them after blooming in addition to the seed pod clusters or could this be a mutation?
view the full question and answer
Plants dying in circular garden in Killeen, TX.
July 31, 2012 - I have a large circular garden in my backyard out in the country in Killeen Texas. Last year two elms died. This year the Rose of Sharon has been dying one by one. One bush will completely die off bef...
view the full question and answer
Catalpa and maple with dying branches in Wisconsin
July 07, 2008 - We have a northern catalpa in our front yard. It's been there for about three years now and is probably 25' high. This year it appeared to be doing great. It flowered and then all of sudden last ...
view the full question and answer
Problems with Eves necklacepods (Styphnolobium affine)
March 25, 2008 - Mr. S-P,
I urgently need your advice regarding two Eve's necklacepods that appear to be dying. They are in two completely different areas of my yard. One began leafing out and then the leaves sh...
view the full question and answer
 |
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. Mr. Smarty Plants wants you to be his Facebook friend. Click the Facebook icon to add yourself to Mr. Smarty Plants list of friends. |
