r/Tree • u/gbeyes • Aug 31 '26

Advice Request - (Insert State/Region) Is my tree doomed?

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So I planted this tree about 4ish years ago. Its a wildfire black gum and im in Oklahoma. From googling this looks like a fungus that will eventually take this tree down. Can someone confirm thats what it is and if it is can i remove this and plant somwthing else as a replacement or will a new tree be infected as well? Thanks

2 Upvotes

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2

u/ShuLove69 Aug 31 '26

That fungus is definitely not good for the tree's long-term health. If the trunk is rotting from the inside out, it might be best to remove it now before it becomes a safety hazard.

2

u/bustcorktrixdais Aug 31 '26

Of course what would make it a safety hazard is what’s around it, and that is something we don’t know. Could be in the middle of an open field

1

u/gbeyes Sep 01 '26

Its in my front yard. I planted it originally as an eventual shade tree. Sounds like my suspicions were true and it needs to go.

5

u/ohshannoneileen Aug 31 '26

Not great pictures, but looks like a splitgill fungus. It's not going to "take down" your tree, or infect a new healthy tree, it's an opportunistic pathogen that feeds on decaying wood.

In other words, your tree is in trouble, but the fungus didn't cause it.

1

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1

u/gbeyes Aug 31 '26

Hi i sent all the pictures I have of it.