Hi Pamela,

Thanks for your question. Desert willow trees are native to the
southwestern US and Mexico growing along ephemeral washes. They are not a
true willow and can withstand periods of drought. Desert willow
(Chilopsis linearis) has large showy, trumpet-shaped flowers in colors
ranging from light pink to deep rose. They are deciduous, meaning they
lose their leaves during the winter.

I'm wondering if you have Australian Willow (Acacia salicina)?? This is a
lovely evergreen tree from Australia that has a graceful, weeping
appearance with drooping branches. Cream puffball flowers appear in the
spring and intermittently throughout the warm months.

If you are sure you have the Desert Willow, then your tree may be affected
by galls. Several things can cause galls, including insects and bacteria.
Fasciation may be another possibility. This is rapid cell growth that
forms elaborately contorted tissue whose cause is generally unknown but
may be bacterial, chemical or from tiny insects like mites. To be sure
why not take a sample to the nearest U of A Extension office? The Master
Gardeners staff four satellite offices in the metro Phoenix. Here's a
link to the addresses and hours that they are open.

http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/garden/html/mgs/satellite.htm

I hope this helps.

Cathy Rymer
Master Gardener, U of A Cooperative Extension
Certified Arborist

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
pamela reidy
85383
azh2olily at hotmail.com

i have two desert willows (theme trees) and four desert sages in my front
yard. this year, the trees grew one-half fine and the other half morphed
into something with fuzzy balls on the ends (only one-half flowered - but
very late in the season); oddly, two of the desert sage in the vicinity of
the trees, did the same thing; wierd fuzzy tips. no pests, no issues we
can find. any thoughts? can plants actually turn into something else? i
worry as this might be something that could affect the neighboring homes
... we all have the same theme plants and everyone else's look fine!!!