Thank you for your question.

This is a fungal growth on your cherry tree. It looks like a type of bracket fungi that belongs to a group of fungi known as polypores. It may be a species of fungi known as “turkey tail”. It is often found on cherry trees. Here is some information about this fungus:

https://www.macalester.edu/ordway/biodiversity/inventory/turkeytailfungus/

http://minnesotaseasons.com/Fungi/Turkey_Tail.html

Much of this fungus is internal inside of the cherry tree. These visible structures are known as fruiting bodies. Often, they develop during the winter months. I suspect that this is not the first time they have been present though perhaps during past winters they may not have been as prominent. Scraping off these fruiting bodies would be only for aesthetic purposes. It will neither kill nor eliminate the actual fungus. It will continue to grow inside the tree.

I have four suggestions to make at this point (mid-February 2026):

1). Do not attempt any form of treatment. Fungicides do not work on internal wood rot.

2). At this time, avoid doing any significant pruning. This would only create new wounds that would be lesions leading to further spread of this fungus.

3). You need to have a professional, licensed arborist conduct an on-site inspection and assessment of the tree. During this visit, inquire what structural risks currently exist in the tree. S/he should be able to advise you about the necessity of removing the branch.  If a “sounding test” could be done, so much the better. This would determine the amount of internal decay. See:

https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/how-hire-tree-care-professional

https://tgbtrees.co.uk/decay/

4). Do some planning for possible replacement of the tree. Many trees with internal rot can survive for five to ten more years after the appearance of significant fruiting bodies.

Good luck. Thanks for consulting our forum.