is planted in decomposed granite.

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how deep is this granite.. that the tree is growing in it ... or do you mean its more of a ground cover or mulch.. and its actually planted in mother earth ...

can we see a pic of the whole tree ...

if its planted in granite.. it might be under severe stresses ... which might be showing in what you are observing ....

btw .. how hot does the rock get in full hot afternoon sun ...

ken

That looks like the response to a pruning cut.

Don't worry about the decomposed granite. PV's will grow in anything as long as it drains well and that is certainly the case with DG. This is a desert tree accustomed to very poor, rocky soils.

I agree with cecily that the "witch's broom" is really just a suckering response to a poor pruning cut, likely done at the wrong time of year.

And I'd consider the whitish powder on some of the leaves as possibly powdery mildew, likely recently encouraged by high humidity and heavy rains from the recent bomb cyclone.

Yes, I can take pics of the whole tree. I removed a few small rubbing branches (smaller than a dime width) That is the only modification. It is planted in dirt with several inches of DG. We removed our lawn and replaced with DG.

the reason i ask is that new transplants suffering from shock due to such.. can show all kinds of problems... related to being transplants ....

my first thought is whether you are watering properly for a transplant ... and then whether the reflected and retained heat of the rock .... is messing with the watering.. and the tree itself ...

but.. once fully established ... they can take on the traits of mature plants ,. such as drought resistance ... etc ....

it really has nothing to do with what rock.. but what the rock is doing or creating .... plant culture wise ...

i note.. you planted it in may.. which i presume is late for your area .... and i presume it did not have an easy summer.. as a transplant ....

ken