Photina Problem
Fraser's Photinia
Photo courtesy of Monrovia Nursery.
July 28, 2012
A: Red Leaf Photina, Photinia fraseri, is a very popular shrub or small tree. Also know as Fraser's Red Leaf Photinia is used as a small tree, hedge or screen. It grows to around 15 - 20 ft. tall. It is very easy to maintain because it is a cut to shape tree or shrub. The description of your problem brings a couple of culprits to mind. The white oozing spots can be due to a few possibilities. Since you are saying that the oozing occured before breaking branches and then you saw it again. I have to guess since I don't have a picture of the symptoms, that it may be due the following possibilities.
1. Damaged stems. Plants will ooze sap. This is the their way to cover a wound. After a few days the sap should dry and the wound area should be covered.
2. Flatheaded Appletree borer, these insects are attracted to diseased, stressed, or injured trees of more than seventy species including ceanothus, cotoneaster, manzanita, maple, oak, rose, sycamore, and willow. Appletree borers are found throughout the United States; Pacific flatheaded borers occur only in the western states. Larvae excavate just beneath bark in the cambial area and may bore deeper into wood as they mature. Appletree Borers are very active during the summer months and will look for injured portions of the tree. They can reinfect trees leaving cut branches that have been left by the bush and enter into the new wounds.
3. The Spittle bug is an insect that is very distinctive when they settle onto the plant. Often immature spittle bugs are found at crotch of young branches or at the base of leaf stems (petiole), they create a frothy covering to protect themselves from predators and the heat. It often looks as if someone had spit on the plant, hence the name spittle bug.
The solution to many of these problems:
This is a simplified answer to your question. Without the direct observation these are just a few possibilities of what is going on. When you are not sure of what the problem is, the solution is to visit your local independent nursery. Most have very knowledgeable staff who can determine the problem. Be sure you wrap the bottom of the stem with wet paper towel. This is to prevent drying/dying of the foliage and possibly the insect. Put the damaged or questionable portion of the plant into a ziplock plastic bag. Don't leave it in the car on hot summer days, burnt and dehydrated plants and insects are hard to diagnose. Get the sample to your local nursery as soon as possible. Always follow label directions on any pesticide that you use.
- Q: I have two red leaf photinia trees and have noticed last week white oozing spots
~ they almost look like spit ! What are they? Before this I had snapped off
new grown and it made me think this was a result of the breakage? I hosed them
off but they oozed again. Do I need to be worried or do anything?
A: Red Leaf Photina, Photinia fraseri, is a very popular shrub or small tree. Also know as Fraser's Red Leaf Photinia is used as a small tree, hedge or screen. It grows to around 15 - 20 ft. tall. It is very easy to maintain because it is a cut to shape tree or shrub. The description of your problem brings a couple of culprits to mind. The white oozing spots can be due to a few possibilities. Since you are saying that the oozing occured before breaking branches and then you saw it again. I have to guess since I don't have a picture of the symptoms, that it may be due the following possibilities.
1. Damaged stems. Plants will ooze sap. This is the their way to cover a wound. After a few days the sap should dry and the wound area should be covered.
2. Flatheaded Appletree borer, these insects are attracted to diseased, stressed, or injured trees of more than seventy species including ceanothus, cotoneaster, manzanita, maple, oak, rose, sycamore, and willow. Appletree borers are found throughout the United States; Pacific flatheaded borers occur only in the western states. Larvae excavate just beneath bark in the cambial area and may bore deeper into wood as they mature. Appletree Borers are very active during the summer months and will look for injured portions of the tree. They can reinfect trees leaving cut branches that have been left by the bush and enter into the new wounds.
3. The Spittle bug is an insect that is very distinctive when they settle onto the plant. Often immature spittle bugs are found at crotch of young branches or at the base of leaf stems (petiole), they create a frothy covering to protect themselves from predators and the heat. It often looks as if someone had spit on the plant, hence the name spittle bug.
The solution to many of these problems:
- Always keep your plants healthy - regular watering, never let your plant stay too wet. This can also cause a problem with Phytopthera which causes root rot.
- Feed your plants regularly. Healthy plants resist insects and disease.
- Damaged stems will heal. Oozing sap will dry.
- Flathead Appletree borers can be seen under the cambium layer and you will see the tunnels. Use a systemic insecticide and avoid pruning during the summertime.
- Spittle bug will be found under the "spit." Use Sevin insecticide or a systemic.
This is a simplified answer to your question. Without the direct observation these are just a few possibilities of what is going on. When you are not sure of what the problem is, the solution is to visit your local independent nursery. Most have very knowledgeable staff who can determine the problem. Be sure you wrap the bottom of the stem with wet paper towel. This is to prevent drying/dying of the foliage and possibly the insect. Put the damaged or questionable portion of the plant into a ziplock plastic bag. Don't leave it in the car on hot summer days, burnt and dehydrated plants and insects are hard to diagnose. Get the sample to your local nursery as soon as possible. Always follow label directions on any pesticide that you use.
