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Pembury Blue

ge1m96i2nige1m96i2ni Posts: 8
in Problem solving
I have a large Pembury blue conifer which has a reddish brown substance on its “leaves”. A huge ploom of dust comes off its branches when I shake them. Anyone got any idea what this is?

Posts

  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    Pollen ?
  • ge1m96i2nige1m96i2ni Posts: 8
    I don’t think so as this is the first time I have seen this since I planted it 10 years ago.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited April 2023
    It still might be pollen.

    The tree will be more mature.  Or you just didn't see it before.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • ge1m96i2nige1m96i2ni Posts: 8
    You think so but this is the first time I have seen it. I would have noticed it the previous years.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @ge1m96i2ni Yes it is pollen, you may not have seen it before, much more likely as your plant matures.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • ge1m96i2nige1m96i2ni Posts: 8
    Ok thanks.
  • Paul B3Paul B3 Posts: 3,154
    The other day there were a row of mature Yews by a local road ; cars were having to slow down due to the incredible amount of pollen being blown from them . People thought they were on fire!!! The majority of conifers are wind pollinated .
    Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Pembury Blue' is but one of many hundred cultivars of this popular tree ; male flowers develop in early March , shedding copious amounts of pollen around early April to synchronise with the formation of the female flowers .
    Don't be alarmed , your tree is simply following the 'rigid drum of solar-astronomy' , albeit maybe slightly earlier than usual .
    Noting the above comments , your tree has now reached the reproductive stage .

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