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Tree ID please

Tilly-mintTilly-mint Posts: 7
in Problem solving

Hi,

I moved in to my cottage 18 months ago and took on what was a lovely tree. See picture taken last year...

Last year it blossomed ok but this year was very disappointing and on closer inspection the leaves have gone all curly and there are dusty white patches on the trunk and branches. 

Could anyone ID the tree for me please? And also, any ideas on what might be causing the problem and any treatment I can do?

Thank you

image

Last edited: 20 June 2016 10:50:21

Posts

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 36,233

    tThe one with the pink blossom is a flowering cherry and what you describe sounds like powdery mildew.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,172

    can you do a photo of the leaves and what they look like now, also what they looked like last year if you have a pic

    The trunk doesn't look like a prunus and the flowers are not focused enough to ID from the flowers. 



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Tilly-mintTilly-mint Posts: 7

    Thanks for your replies.

    I am adding a couple more photos, one of the leaves and one of an odd green thing that is growing on most of the branches. This tends to be on top of the white powdery patches but it doesn't really show up as the tree has been saturated daily for the last couple of weeks with the torrential rain!!imageimage

  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 36,233

    The moisture loving lichens and mosses grow on the side facing the prevailing winds as they like the atmosphere that side.

    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,172

    Have a look at images of Cercis siliquastrum (Judas Tree), and see what you think. Those leaves, even in that state, don't look like any Prunus (cherry etc). They come from a much warmer and drier climate and will not be having a good time this year.

    It used to be said that mosses and lichens grow on the North side of a tree and you can find your way out of a forest by using that as a compass. It's not true. They grow where they grow. Different species might have a different preference and mosses don't do so well in full sun, but nothing definite enough to see you out of a forest.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    I'd also go with Cercis tree of some variety.  If not the one nut mentions have a look at other 'redbuds'  The leaves should be heart-shaped if you can find any undistorted ones.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • Chrissy the gardenerChrissy the gardener Posts: 1,072

    I thought Cersis as well ,pretty sure not Prunus.

    The lichen doesn't hurt the tree so is not detrimental.

  • Tilly-mintTilly-mint Posts: 7

    Thank you all for your responses.

    I have looked at photos of Cercis trees and yes, I can recall the blossom and leaves did look similar when I first moved in to my cottage.

    Only hope it recovers....

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