Weird growths on plum tree

Homey

My plum tree which is about 6 or 7 years old has produced very few plums, 4 or 5 a year from maybe slightly more flowers. These weird growths which themselves have leaves growing from them have been present from the first year. I remove them all every year but they always come back. I don’t think it’s black knot and doubt if it’s plum pocket as these growths appear befor the tree produces any flowers or fruit. Would be interested and extremely grateful for any advice and or theories.

Fire

🌱

Fire

I think it might be fasciation. It makes my skin crawl and my teeth itch.

josusa47

Is the whole tree affected, or some branches and not others?  I believe some viruses can be introduced by boring or sap-sucking insects, and cause local or systemic infection resulting in abnormal growth.  It messes with the DNA, resulting in the plant equivalent of cancer.  I'm no expert, but if the problem is confined to only part of the tree, I should think it would be worth cutting off the affected bits and see if it recovers.  What have you got to lose?  If the whole tree is affected, I doubt if there's anything you can do. If it hasn't cured itself in seven years, it probably isn't going to.  

Homey

Thank you for your comments. The growths appear on some branches, up to perhaps a dozen or so. I have tried removing whole branches affected but they just come back elsewhere. The tree appears otherwise healthy but produces very few flowers and even less fruit, 2 flowers this year and not a single plum. I’m afraid it’s probably going to get the chop shortly.