Zombie orange tree

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

I have an orange tee in my backyard that was dead for a number of years and suddenly came back to live and is producing great fruit now. The weirdest part is that the entire tree is hollow except for the new growth. I can shine a flashlight in a crack near the top and see the light in a hole in the base. Parts are falling off too, though they seemed to have stopped recently. The parts that still are on the tree look dead, including the parts on the interior of the tree. Does anyone have any idea what could have caused this to happen?

Featured Answer

Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis

11 years ago

Assuming the leaves are the same and it is not honeysuckle sprouting up, I bet the top of the tree died and the roots are sending up new shoots. Depending on if the tree was a grafted cultivar you could be getting the same thing you had back or just a relative.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

Turtleturtlemeow
Original Author
11 years ago
It seems like the entire tree died and the new branches seamlessly branch off the dead looking wood. Thanks for responding.
Related Professionals
Tuscaloosa Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Middletown Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Montgomery Landscape Contractors · Kissimmee Landscape Contractors · California Landscape Contractors · Meridian Landscape Contractors · Fayetteville Landscape Contractors · Raleigh Landscape Contractors · Altoona Landscape Contractors · Green Bay Landscape Contractors · Redding Landscape Contractors · Spokane Landscape Contractors · Queens Landscape Contractors · Ogden Home Additions · York Home Additions
treenutt
11 years ago
can you send pictures?
Turtleturtlemeow
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
are these good enough? I can send more if necessary.
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
11 years ago
That is rather gnarly neat. If it can't fall and hurt anything I would leave it. All is not hopeless.

I have a peach tree which is laying on its side in a walnut / honeysuckle / redbud mess. Some years I get good peaches from it. This year it had a good crop going but they disappeared either to squirrels or the wettest June we have ever had.
Turtleturtlemeow thanked Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
Turtleturtlemeow
Original Author
11 years ago
I don't think its heavy enough to hurt anything.