Pacific madrone - Ask Extension
Hello! My pacific madrone seems to have some kind of disease, and I’m wondering if there’s anything I can do for it. The leaves have nearly all br...
Knowledgebase
Pacific madrone #869470
Asked May 21, 2024, 2:12 PM EDT
Hello! My pacific madrone seems to have some kind of disease, and I’m wondering if there’s anything I can do for it. The leaves have nearly all browned and fallen off the tree. Some are still green, but the tree overall looks quite ill.
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
wow, that is really hammered. There are numerous diseases that can affect madrone, but this looks like it may be caused by canker diseases of the stem (canker are caused by fungi that kill the bark). In the last photo of the tree base, there is dark streaking on the stem, that may be a canker disease. The branches also seem to be diseased all thru the crown.
Here is a link to diseases and insects of madrone, it may be helpful: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/ec1619.pdf
this particular tree seems really affected, I have not seen anything this bad before, but the canker diseases can girdle the stem and kill everything above the canker. Also the dead branches appear to be blackened, which indicates a canker.
I don't think there is much you can do. Madrone are really hard to treat. Some arborists are experimenting with soil treatments, but it is pretty iffy. If the tree appears to die, you may want to cut it off at the base and see if it stump spouts new shoots.
Here is a link to diseases and insects of madrone, it may be helpful: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/ec1619.pdf
this particular tree seems really affected, I have not seen anything this bad before, but the canker diseases can girdle the stem and kill everything above the canker. Also the dead branches appear to be blackened, which indicates a canker.
I don't think there is much you can do. Madrone are really hard to treat. Some arborists are experimenting with soil treatments, but it is pretty iffy. If the tree appears to die, you may want to cut it off at the base and see if it stump spouts new shoots.
