What is this mushroom growing on this tree

[Greenfields]

Hi, wondering if anyone can help identify this mushroom/fungal growth on the bark of this forsythia? I was looking at purchasing it but dont want to buy a tree with a death certificate!

Thanks

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I cannot identify the fungus, but I would personally pass on the tree. Fungus above the soil = decay and deadwood (or infected sapwood which is probably about to die). I see extensive fruiting bodies all over the plant. In the best case the entire front of the tree is dead and will rot away - which kinda defeats the purpose of buying a chunky base if the plant is going to rot back to a few live sprouts.

This is why it is highly recommended to seal pruning scars, and treat exposed deadwood with lime sulfur - particularly if you are growing your trees in a warm humid environment and using broadcast sprinklers to water. You're not just keeping the exposed wood from rotting, you are making it harder for fungus to get established deep in your tree, at which point it becomes nearly impossible to eradicate.

 

[Greenfields]

Thankyou fir the info and advice and thankyou for saving me the money and stress

Surprisingly its on sale at a very well established bonsai nursery so bit annoyed its actually on the shelves fir us to buy

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Surprisingly its on sale at a very well established bonsai nursery so bit annoyed its actually on the shelves fir us to buy

They may not be aware of it. Sometimes those fruiting bodies can show up literally overnight.

Forsynthia is a pretty popular bush species, and I wouldn't be surprised if this plant came out of landscape somewhere, and may not have had the best roots. If you get root die-back and part of the trunk dies, it is only a matter of time before it starts rotting.

 

[Greenfields]

Thats very true, I did mention it to them as I was leaving so hopefully they can take a look

Thanks for the help

 

[RoadManDenDron]

Forsythia wood rots away easily enough without obvious fungus eating it

I would pass

 

[Greenfields]

Forsythia wood rots away easily enough without obvious fungus eating it

I would pass

Will save my money for another day

Or perhaps keep a eye out for yellow flowering hedges to dig up in spring

 

[Potawatomi13]

I've seen this on dead bark and wood this fungus likes. If you could point this out and maybe get it cheap ti has interesting possibility for a Bonsai. Removing dead bark with the fungus and spray for fungus gets rid of it but the wood will still rot. A hollow stump with growing flowering branches could be an interesting tree. However as mentioned exposed wood will likely rot away in a fairly short number of years.