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Feb 23, 2016 3:25 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mika
Oxfordshire, England and Mento
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Foliage Fan Critters Allowed Daylilies Irises Roses
Hostas Birds Multi-Region Gardener Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
We have an old and very big eucalyptus tree which we have been told is suffering from a fungus. We were told that there was nothing available to cure it - over the last couple of years several smaller branches have died and been cut off. We really love this tree and I wondered if anyone knew of anything that might fix the problem? Confused
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Feb 23, 2016 3:53 PM CST
Name: Sue
Ontario, Canada (Zone 4b)
Annuals Native Plants and Wildflowers Keeps Horses Dog Lover Daylilies Region: Canadian
Butterflies Birds Enjoys or suffers cold winters Garden Sages Plant Identifier
Do you have any idea which fungus it is said to be? A quick Google for Eucalyptus diseases in the UK only so far turned up two possibilities, one being Armillaria (honey fungus), and the other "silver leaf" disease, which is described here:

http://www.grafton-nursery.co....
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Feb 23, 2016 4:17 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mika
Oxfordshire, England and Mento
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Foliage Fan Critters Allowed Daylilies Irises Roses
Hostas Birds Multi-Region Gardener Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Thanks, Sue - the tree surgeon didn't say what the fungus was. But sadly, whatever it is has affected the trunk - right at the base of the tree a white growth is visible. So if it is silver leaf disease, our poor tree is doomed. I guess I was hoping for some new miracle-cure! Sad
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Feb 23, 2016 4:30 PM CST
Name: Sue
Ontario, Canada (Zone 4b)
Annuals Native Plants and Wildflowers Keeps Horses Dog Lover Daylilies Region: Canadian
Butterflies Birds Enjoys or suffers cold winters Garden Sages Plant Identifier
Does the white growth look like this?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wik...
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Feb 23, 2016 4:38 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mika
Oxfordshire, England and Mento
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Foliage Fan Critters Allowed Daylilies Irises Roses
Hostas Birds Multi-Region Gardener Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
No, it's less frilly and less pink - I'll take a photo of it tomorrow (it's night time here now).
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Feb 24, 2016 9:33 AM CST
Name: Sue
Ontario, Canada (Zone 4b)
Annuals Native Plants and Wildflowers Keeps Horses Dog Lover Daylilies Region: Canadian
Butterflies Birds Enjoys or suffers cold winters Garden Sages Plant Identifier
Yes, a picture would be useful Thumbs up
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Feb 24, 2016 9:56 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mika
Oxfordshire, England and Mento
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Foliage Fan Critters Allowed Daylilies Irises Roses
Hostas Birds Multi-Region Gardener Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Here are photos of the two bits of fungus at the base of the trunk. When we first saw them (2 years ago), they were much paler in colour - off white.

Thumb of 2016-02-24/cliftoncat/8f3347


Thumb of 2016-02-24/cliftoncat/82b867

The fungus bit in the first photo is where there is a semi-circular smooth-ish lump; in the second photo it's more or less the whole of the bit that sticks out. Hope you can decipher it! Thank you.
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Feb 24, 2016 10:04 AM CST
Name: Sue
Ontario, Canada (Zone 4b)
Annuals Native Plants and Wildflowers Keeps Horses Dog Lover Daylilies Region: Canadian
Butterflies Birds Enjoys or suffers cold winters Garden Sages Plant Identifier
Does/did it look anything like this (I'm going by the smallish white patch in the lower picture)

https://www.google.ca/search?q...

Have you had any other woody plants get sick?
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Feb 24, 2016 10:31 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mika
Oxfordshire, England and Mento
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Foliage Fan Critters Allowed Daylilies Irises Roses
Hostas Birds Multi-Region Gardener Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
The fungus is the whole lump, not just the white patch; I think the patch is where the surface of the fungus has been chipped. When we first saw them they were much whiter in colour than they are now and pretty smooth on the surface. They have darkened and become lumpier with age. What worries me most is that the two pictures are of lumps of the fungus on opposite sides of the base of the tree trunk, which might suggest that the disease goes right to the centre of the trunk?
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Feb 24, 2016 10:33 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mika
Oxfordshire, England and Mento
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Foliage Fan Critters Allowed Daylilies Irises Roses
Hostas Birds Multi-Region Gardener Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Sorry, just saw your final question - we have lots of trees, but none of them seem sick. Only the one eucalyptus (not a native, but it gives us some greenery through the winter months).
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Feb 24, 2016 10:51 AM CST
Name: Sue
Ontario, Canada (Zone 4b)
Annuals Native Plants and Wildflowers Keeps Horses Dog Lover Daylilies Region: Canadian
Butterflies Birds Enjoys or suffers cold winters Garden Sages Plant Identifier
So, it doesn't look like the two fungal diseases I found listed for Eucalyptus in the UK. Going through a process of elimination, I don't think it looks like this either (not a fungus)?

https://www.google.ca/search?q...
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Feb 24, 2016 11:32 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mika
Oxfordshire, England and Mento
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Foliage Fan Critters Allowed Daylilies Irises Roses
Hostas Birds Multi-Region Gardener Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
I've nipped out and taken a couple more photos to try to help - this time getting the width of the trunk in:


Thumb of 2016-02-24/cliftoncat/c63e72


Thumb of 2016-02-24/cliftoncat/24e279

In both cases, the fungus (if that's what it is) is the circular protrusion. In the second photo, it's just at ground level where there's brown earth, slightly to the right of centre. Ignore the hole in the grass - a critter...

And the tree:

Thumb of 2016-02-24/cliftoncat/a685c3
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Feb 24, 2016 12:02 PM CST
Name: Sue
Ontario, Canada (Zone 4b)
Annuals Native Plants and Wildflowers Keeps Horses Dog Lover Daylilies Region: Canadian
Butterflies Birds Enjoys or suffers cold winters Garden Sages Plant Identifier
I just looked through a couple of books I have on plant diseases that focus on the UK and nothing specific for Eucalyptus. I wonder if it is a generalist problem, or if the tree is declining and a fungus taking advantage. Does a qualified tree surgeon there have to just be skilled in taking them down/pruning, or do they have to have some knowledge of pests and diseases? If the latter, could you call and ask what specific disease he/she thinks it is?

Another option would be if you are an RHS member, because they have a diagnostic and advisory service which, as far as I recall from when I was a member, is free to members. If not a member, might be worth joining just for that to get a prognosis. You can email them pictures of problems as well as send samples if they need them:

https://www.rhs.org.uk/members...
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Feb 24, 2016 12:29 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Mika
Oxfordshire, England and Mento
Plant Lover: Loves 'em all! Foliage Fan Critters Allowed Daylilies Irises Roses
Hostas Birds Multi-Region Gardener Cat Lover Dog Lover Million Pollinator Garden Challenge
Thanks, Sue - I am indeed a member of the RHS, so I'll contact them tomorrow. Thanks! Thank You!
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Feb 24, 2016 12:47 PM CST
Name: Sue
Ontario, Canada (Zone 4b)
Annuals Native Plants and Wildflowers Keeps Horses Dog Lover Daylilies Region: Canadian
Butterflies Birds Enjoys or suffers cold winters Garden Sages Plant Identifier
That's great! Do let us know what they say. I'm pondering rejoining - I was a member for years but a lot of the perks don't really apply overseas and with the unfavourable currency exchange I let it drop. Used to love going to Wisley when I still lived there Sighing!
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