What is this on my lilac shrub? - Ask Extension
Hello,
A large branch came down on my lilac shrub over the weekend. When I went to move the branch out of the way, I noticed these weird spikey orang...
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What is this on my lilac shrub? #791086
Asked May 16, 2022, 3:16 PM EDT
Hello,
A large branch came down on my lilac shrub over the weekend. When I went to move the branch out of the way, I noticed these weird spikey orange things on it. The wood was wet and spongy. I then checked the base of the lilac shrub and it too has these orange bits all over it as well as being wet, spongey, and falling apart went probed. There are also lots of little bugs living in there. Is this a disease? Can the bush be saved?
-Wendy Allison
Linn County Oregon
Expert Response
Dear Wendy,
I have questions for you. Is the lilac plant located in an area that drains well? How much of the plant is spongy at the base of the bush? Has the plant been healthy and thriving? How old is the plant? Are there any signs of disease on the rest of the branches, like wilting, dark or brown or black spots on the leaves? Anything other than the spongy wood with the spikey growths. Is it in bloom or did it bloom recently?
Are the bugs that you found sow bugs, often called rollee pollees or pill bugs? They have what looks like a hard shell similar to an armadillo. Sow bugs are decomposers, they eat dead, dying and or rotting wood and greens. That's what they would be doing in the spongy wood.
If the base of the bush and the inner part of the main stem is spongy, the bush will probably die. Dig down around the plant and check out the wood at the base. If it is one branch and a little bit around the area where the branch was laying, then you may be able to save the bush.
As to what is growing on the wood, I do not know. You will need to take it to an Extension office and let them look at it. However, it may be a fungus of some sort. There are well over 100,000 types of fungi.
If you feel the plant can be saved (by the fact that you have found hard wood at the base of the bush), clean out all the rotting wood, make sure the soil is draining well. Add fresh soil (not from your garden but bagged soil recently composted. Add some organic fertilizer (follow the instructions on the bag as to amount).
I am adding a link from the University of Minnesota, even though they are not in our area, the info is correct for our area. Please review: https://extension.umn.edu/trees-and-shrubs/lilacs
With more information, I may be able to further assist you. Pictures of the plant especially around the base would be great too.
Here is a link and a little bit of info on the Sow Bug: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armadillidiidae
Please contact us again with further questions. Thank you for sending in this question. I hope you can save the lilac.
I have questions for you. Is the lilac plant located in an area that drains well? How much of the plant is spongy at the base of the bush? Has the plant been healthy and thriving? How old is the plant? Are there any signs of disease on the rest of the branches, like wilting, dark or brown or black spots on the leaves? Anything other than the spongy wood with the spikey growths. Is it in bloom or did it bloom recently?
Are the bugs that you found sow bugs, often called rollee pollees or pill bugs? They have what looks like a hard shell similar to an armadillo. Sow bugs are decomposers, they eat dead, dying and or rotting wood and greens. That's what they would be doing in the spongy wood.
If the base of the bush and the inner part of the main stem is spongy, the bush will probably die. Dig down around the plant and check out the wood at the base. If it is one branch and a little bit around the area where the branch was laying, then you may be able to save the bush.
As to what is growing on the wood, I do not know. You will need to take it to an Extension office and let them look at it. However, it may be a fungus of some sort. There are well over 100,000 types of fungi.
If you feel the plant can be saved (by the fact that you have found hard wood at the base of the bush), clean out all the rotting wood, make sure the soil is draining well. Add fresh soil (not from your garden but bagged soil recently composted. Add some organic fertilizer (follow the instructions on the bag as to amount).
I am adding a link from the University of Minnesota, even though they are not in our area, the info is correct for our area. Please review: https://extension.umn.edu/trees-and-shrubs/lilacs
With more information, I may be able to further assist you. Pictures of the plant especially around the base would be great too.
Here is a link and a little bit of info on the Sow Bug: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armadillidiidae
Please contact us again with further questions. Thank you for sending in this question. I hope you can save the lilac.
