Is my Pear Tree diseased - Ask Extension
The second season of having branches and leaves turning brown and dying. Rust?
Attached photo for reference.
Knowledgebase
Is my Pear Tree diseased #930562
Asked May 04, 2026, 2:39 PM EDT
The second season of having branches and leaves turning brown and dying. Rust?
Attached photo for reference.
Hennepin County Minnesota
Expert Response
Thank you for your question and photo for Extension Master Gardeners. It's hard to definitely diagnose, but it looks like your pear tree is suffering from fire blight which is caused by the bacteria Erwina amylovora. It is known by its characteristic wilt of all branches that blacken and die. This blackening spreads to the trunk of the tree and into the roots.
You can prune out infected areas if the disease has not spread to the trunk. From your photo it's hard for me to see. Fire blight is very difficult to treat, so the best thing you can do is to buy fire blight resistant pear trees that are hardy. Here is more information for you with pictures:
