Serviceberry tree disease - Ask Extension
We had a small serviceberry tree planted four years ago. The second year it developed yellow leaves and berries that looked deformed / diseased. We ha...
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Serviceberry tree disease #796706
Asked June 19, 2022, 4:02 PM EDT
We had a small serviceberry tree planted four years ago. The second year it developed yellow leaves and berries that looked deformed / diseased. We have tried spraying with an organic pest repellent and sometimes with weak soap water, which seems to help some but not totally. This year, as soon as the berries appeared, most of them are coated with yellow hairs and again looked bad. See attached pictures.
Thanks for any advice.
Beth Sloand
Baltimore County Maryland
Expert Response
Both cedar-quince rust and cedar hawthorne rust can infect serviceberries. Please see our page about rust and management options: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/rust-diseases-trees
Rust on serviceberry can be disfiguring but it does not kill the tree. However, it makes the fruit inedible. You did not mention if you want to eat the fruit. Serviceberry is more an ornamental and the fruit is eaten by wildlife. Rust infection varies from year to year and most homeowners who want the fruit just enjoy them during the years not quite as wet as this past spring.
Here is a Penn State Extension page on rust disease on ornamentals: https://extension.psu.edu/cedar-apple-and-related-rusts-on-ornamentals
Hope this is helpful. Debbie
Rust on serviceberry can be disfiguring but it does not kill the tree. However, it makes the fruit inedible. You did not mention if you want to eat the fruit. Serviceberry is more an ornamental and the fruit is eaten by wildlife. Rust infection varies from year to year and most homeowners who want the fruit just enjoy them during the years not quite as wet as this past spring.
Here is a Penn State Extension page on rust disease on ornamentals: https://extension.psu.edu/cedar-apple-and-related-rusts-on-ornamentals
Hope this is helpful. Debbie
