This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Help with tree ID please
Hi all!
Claire the Novice here again. Happy Monday to you all.
I was just wondering if any of you could possibly ID this tree for me please.
It is growing at an angle away from the fence and into the garden. It is covered in a white/grey fungus stuff and there are barely any leaves growing on it apart from the very top branch with the flower/blossom (in picture).
Is it ok or should it come out? It is on a south facing border between two laburnums.
Many thanks for all your kind help.
Claire 
0
Posts
I think it's a Fremontodendron and the fungus stuff is lichen
In the sticks near Peterborough
It's a [EDIT, Fremontodendron, as above, not tulip tree!] The fungus is actually lichen, probably not harmful in and of itself. Not a great sign though. Not sure if the tree is sick, or just drawn / over shaded. I would prune off the dead / sickly bits and see what happens.
Amazing thank you both. In terms of shade, it doesn't get the sun until late morning because of the sycamores at the end of our garden. I will give it a good prune and see what happens.
Previous owners must have loved yellow as its everywhere in the garden. Didn't even notice the flower until today because of the laburnums.
Many thanks again
Don't tulip trees have tulip shaped flowers and a 'cut off' look to the central lobe of the leaves?
In the sticks near Peterborough
I agree with nut and will just add that lichen is harmless and just shows that those twigs are very old and that you have good air quality. It's a relatively short lived shrub so the poor growth may indicate that is is nearing the end of it's life.
Yes, nut, you were definitely right about Fremontodendron!
Brilliant stuff thanks again all.
Bob, I will give it a prune and see what happens but I will be honest, it is not the end of the world if it is ready to go to the great garden in the sky.
As much as I love yellow, that whole border with the exception of the weigela at the front is yellow. Would be nice to get a bit of contrast in there
Good idea Clahay - I love the contrast of yellow with blue - If it doesn't come back well I'd probably replace it with a ceanothus myself.