What Is A Witch’s Broom Anomaly, And Why Do They Form In Lubbock?

I recently saw a very interesting post in Lubbock Gardening and Plant Lovers on Facebook (a fantastic resource if you're into that kind of thing). A Lubbock local (hi Brandi!) posted about what appeared to be a very gnarly and strange nest in a tree- asking what the heck could have made this nest? Some guessed squirrels or large prey birds, but upon closer inspection, it appears to be what is known as a Witches Broom.

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The "Spooky" Witches' Broom Anomaly Explained

Mr Maple Show does a fantastic job of explaining and showing a witch's broom in a Japanese Maple. According to these tree experts, a Witches Broom is usually a genetic mutation that causes many small branches to sprout from a single point, which resembles a nest, or, for those of us who love all things spooky, a witch's broom.

Witch's Brooms Are A Rare Opportunity

Mr Maple Show also mentions growing unusual trees by grafting these twigs onto other rootstalks, because the new growth will take on the same variations. So cool! Some nursery owners and plant enthusiasts see witch's brooms as a perfect opportunity to create new cultivars, like dwarf versions of the orginal tree.

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Other Reasons A Witch's Broom Can Happen

Other potential causes for a witch's broom include interference from other critters including, "fungi, oomycetes, insects, mites, nematodes, phytoplasmas, and viruses." Since we have both trees and things of that nature, a witch's broom can form in our area, although they are fairly rare, and a cool thing to see in person. But if you have one in your yard, you may want to get an arborist to look at it to ensure your tree doesn't have any of those potential underlying conditions.

But Is It a Nest Afterall?

It can be! Animals are incredibly smart and adaptable, and if there's a free deluxe condo in the neighborhood- why not move in?