Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
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.

rate this answer

Thursday - June 11, 2009
From: Arlington, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Trees
Title: Sticky white substance from Arizona Ash tree in Arlington TX
Answered by: Barbara Medford
QUESTION:
Our Arizona Ash Tree is producing a white substance that floats down from the tree almost like a snowflake the size of a bb. You cannot see it on the tree/leaves. When it lands on the car, it takes the shape of a tiny pyramid and when you wipe it off, it leaves a greasy residue. What is this and how do we get rid of it? We've had these trees for many years and have never seen this before. Thank you.ANSWER:
Fraxinus velutina (velvet ash), also called Arizona Ash, is discussed in this USDA Forest Service website Velvet Ash. Among the pests that are mentioned in that article are ash borers and verticillium wilt. Neither of these present the symptoms you are describing. Another possibility is found in this forestpests.org site Woolly Ash Aphid. One more suspect is found in this University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences website Ash Whitefly.
Since we are gardeners and neither plant pathologists nor entomologists, about the best we can do is suggest you look at these websites we have mentioned and see if you recognize any of the symptoms. Then, consider contacting the Texas A&M AgriLIFE Extension Office for Tarrant County. Perhaps there are others in your area experiencing these problems, and they can help you with a diagnosis and, hopefully, a solution.
More Trees Questions
Failure to thrive of potted blue-green cypress
July 26, 2008 - I received a small 14" potted blue-green cypress for Christmas 2007. Kept it in a bright window, not direct sun. It was doing great until two weeks ago when it started turning brown from the center. ...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification of shrub with thorns and purple flowers
July 05, 2011 - I have a small tree or shrub, it has very small or thin thorns on the branches. It blooms in April / May. The flowers are purple. My mother-in-law said that it has been around for over 100 years, b...
view the full question and answer
Problems with rusty blackhaw viburnum in Austin
May 07, 2010 - I have a four foot rusty blackhaw viburnum. Last summer the leaves turned reddish and in the late summer most of them fell off. This February the plant started to leaf out and then bloomed. It has ...
view the full question and answer
Pruning live oak shoots from San Antonio
September 10, 2011 - I am new to TX and am curious about removing suckers/water sprouts from my Live Oaks. Everything I've read about pruning Live Oaks states that you must paint ALL cuts, so I assume that all means al...
view the full question and answer
Evergreen Conifer for Moist, Full Sun Site in Ohio
May 09, 2015 - We need to find an evergreen conifer, classic holiday-shaped tree that will tolerate a very moist, but not soaking wet, site in full sun.
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |