Nectria lecanodes: A Common Tree Fungus Every Gardener Should Know
If you’re a gardener who loves trees and shrubs, you’ve probably encountered more fungi than you realize – and Nectria lecanodes might just be one of them! This small but significant fungus is native to North America and plays a rather unwelcome role in many landscapes as a plant pathogen.
What Exactly Is Nectria lecanodes?
Nectria lecanodes isn’t your typical garden plant – it’s actually a parasitic fungus that makes its living by infecting trees and woody shrubs. Think of it as nature’s uninvited guest that shows up at the tree party and definitely overstays its welcome.
This fungus belongs to a group called Ascomycetes, and while that sounds fancy, what it really means is that it produces tiny, colorful fruiting bodies that look like miniature orange or red bumps on infected bark.
Where You’ll Find This Fungus
As a North American native, Nectria lecanodes has made itself at home across much of the continent. It’s particularly fond of deciduous trees and shrubs, where it sets up shop and creates what we call cankers – those unsightly, sunken areas of dead bark that can girdle branches or even entire trunks.
Identifying Nectria lecanodes in Your Garden
Spotting this fungus is easier than you might think, once you know what to look for:
- Small, bright red to reddish-orange bumps on bark (these are the fruiting bodies)
- Cankers or sunken, discolored areas on branches and trunks
- Dieback of twigs and smaller branches
- The fruiting bodies are typically less than 1mm in diameter but quite noticeable due to their bright color
Is This Fungus Beneficial to Your Garden?
Here’s where we need to be honest – Nectria lecanodes isn’t the kind of fungus you want to welcome into your garden with open arms. Unlike beneficial mycorrhizal fungi that help plants thrive, this little character is what we call a plant pathogen, which is a fancy way of saying it causes disease.
While it does play a role in the natural ecosystem by helping decompose dead and dying plant material, in your carefully tended landscape, it’s more likely to be a source of frustration than joy.
Managing Nectria lecanodes
If you’ve spotted signs of this fungus in your garden, don’t panic! Here are some practical steps you can take:
- Prune affected branches during dry weather, making cuts well below visible cankers
- Sterilize pruning tools between cuts with rubbing alcohol
- Dispose of infected material in the trash, not your compost pile
- Improve air circulation around affected plants
- Avoid wounding trees unnecessarily, as fresh wounds provide entry points
- Keep trees healthy with proper watering and fertilization – stressed trees are more susceptible
The Bottom Line
While Nectria lecanodes might be a native North American species, it’s not one you’ll want to cultivate intentionally. Instead, focus on creating conditions that keep your trees and shrubs healthy and resistant to this and other fungal infections. Remember, a healthy garden ecosystem includes some challenges – the key is managing them before they become major problems!
Keep an eye out for those telltale red fruiting bodies, and don’t hesitate to take action if you spot them. Your trees will thank you for it!
