Growths on Ash tree - Ask Extension
HelloI am in Lakewood, CO. We have lots of ash trees but this one is the only tree that has these pods. They've been there for 2 years now and slowly ...
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Growths on Ash tree #566839
Asked June 03, 2019, 2:45 PM EDT
Hello
I am in Lakewood, CO. We have lots of ash trees but this one is the only tree that has these pods. They've been there for 2 years now and slowly seem to be going away but I'm curious as to what they are?
thank you
Chris
I am in Lakewood, CO. We have lots of ash trees but this one is the only tree that has these pods. They've been there for 2 years now and slowly seem to be going away but I'm curious as to what they are?
thank you
Chris
Jefferson County Colorado
Expert Response
Hey Chris,
These are Ash Flower galls, found on male Ash trees. They are caused by the trees' reaction to tiny eriophyid mites feeding on male flowers. Good news is the galls are mostly cosmetic and don't cause significant damage to the tree. They'll show up year after year, but last year we saw a particular abundance of these ash galls (was a good year for the eriophyid mites!).
Here is a bit more info (From Iowa State Extension) in case you're curious:
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/news/2006/jul/072801.htm
https://www.extension.iastate.edu/news/news/2006/jul/072801.htm
From (Wisconsin-Madison Extension): https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/files/2014/11/Ash-Flower-Gall.pdf