Knowledgebase

Iridescence on tulip tree leaves #869796

Asked May 23, 2024, 1:55 PM EDT

I came across this Liriodendron sapling while walking in Adkins Arboretum. The flash of iridescence caught my eye. Any idea what caused this? Not raining. Not sunny. A few other leaves showed the same. I think it was localized. Didn't notice it on others in the woods.

Caroline County Maryland

Expert Response

When new leaves emerge, they have a shinier look to them until the tissue toughens up and becomes duller. Another possibility is that you might have been seeing honeydew, which is a sticky substance produced by sap-feeding insects such as aphids and scales that may be feeding higher up in the tree. 

Christa
Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied May 24, 2024, 9:55 AM EDT

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