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Dried black "growth" around branches of Liberty Hollies #873200

Asked June 15, 2024, 9:19 AM EDT

Just noticed this dried black/brown growth around/on many branches of all 9 of our Liberty Hollies. They look like clusters of dried stems and blossoms of flowers, but these trees have never had flowers or berries that we have noticed and the distribution seems almost exclusively in the interior of the tree. Hollies were planted 2 years ago. Several upright branches seem unusually bear of leaves, but the leaves on the trees appear normal and healthy, with lots of new growth this spring. Are these just dried up blossoms from flowers we never saw or something to worry about?

Greenville County South Carolina

Expert Response

Hello, Received your inquiry and photos of your hollies. From the photos the growth appears to be dried up flowers. Flowers on hollies tend to be small,inconspicuous and short lived so can be easily missed. I don't think this is a problem to be worried about. I do suggest to prune back the upright branches that are above the rest of the shrub. Hope this helps and if you have further concerns, please contact me.

Russ Poston

Horticulture Information Specialist
Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC)
Clemson Extension

135 Old Cherry Road
Clemson, SC 29634
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Office Hours: 8 AM to 4:30 PM

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An Ask Extension Expert Replied June 20, 2024, 8:58 AM EDT
Thank you so much. That is exactly what it looked like to us, but we are horticulturally ignorant. The landscaping guy who actually planted these trees and otherwise seems knowledgeable, but he wasn’t sure and emailed a photo to an “expert” friend, who said it looked like some sort of lichen. I know there are hundreds of forms of lichen, but my web searches could find none that looked like this on hollies. Yesterday, the guy who handles our fertilization and weed control program said the exact same thing. It is nice to have it confirmed by a true expert.

Thanks again,

Landis Griffeth

On Jun 20, 2024, at 8:58 AM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

The Question Asker Replied June 20, 2024, 9:10 AM EDT

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