04/10/2026
We’re seeing a great example here of how past stress compounds over time.
These eastern redcedars are showing signs of decline after recent seasons of drought and environmental stress. When trees are pushed beyond their limits, even tough, drought-tolerant species like redcedar can begin to thin, discolor, and struggle to maintain healthy growth.
But here’s where it gets interesting 👇
Those small, round, brown structures you see are cedar-apple rust galls. During wet spring weather, they produce those bright orange, jelly-like “horns” (called telial horns). While they look alarming, they don’t significantly harm the redcedar itself.
However, redcedar plays an important role in the life cycle of this fungus—it’s one of two required hosts. The other hosts?
👉 Callery pears
👉 Apples
👉 Crabapples
👉 Fruiting pears
And those trees can be much more impacted, developing leaf spots, defoliation, and reduced vigor.
This is a perfect reminder that tree health isn’t just about what we see today—it’s the result of seasons of stress, site conditions, and even nearby plant relationships.
If you’re noticing decline, unusual growths, or spotting on your trees, we’re here to help you connect the dots and protect your landscape long-term.
📞 Reach out to schedule a visit with one of our certified arborists—we’d love to take a look.