White honeycomb on dwarf cherry tree - Ask Extension
Our cherry tree had beautiful blossoms this spring, but this week we noticed what looked like a honeycomb shape along an entire branch. It is white ha...
Knowledgebase
White honeycomb on dwarf cherry tree #869722
Asked May 23, 2024, 8:36 AM EDT
Our cherry tree had beautiful blossoms this spring, but this week we noticed what looked like a honeycomb shape along an entire branch. It is white hard, but when we scrape it off it is sticky. There are very few cherries on the tree now. It seems that once the blossoms died no cherries developed.
Wayne County Michigan
Expert Response
Can you tell me a little more informations so that I can try to help you? How old is the tree and do you know what kind of cherry tree it is? Did this appear over time or did appear suddenly? Has it changed at all since you first sent in the question?
The tree is approximately 8-10 years old. It is a dwarf red cherry tree. The white, crumbly, waxy substance appeared suddenly over an 8-inch area on the branch. It feels waxing when we broke a small white piece off. The tree now appears to be in distress or dying. Last year we had a full tree of cherries and this year although it was full of blossoms, the fruit never materialized. We have about 10 cherries on the tree. We do not spray the tree but instead we cover with netting when the cherries begin to turn red.
Thank you for any help you can provide.
Are there any wounds or openings in the bark in the vicinity of where this white substance is? I think we are looking for a canker, which is a sunken area on the trunk that may or may not be associated with cracks in the bark where sap might weep out.
