Cedar-Quince Rust on Pear Tree: Identification and Management

Your old pear tree shows orange, spore-producing structures on the fruit—classic cedar-quince rust. This fungus requires two hosts: juniper (cedar) and rosaceous plants like pear, quince, and apple. Spores from cedar galls infect pear fruit in spring; the fungus matures through summer, producing the spores you see, which then blow back to cedars to restart the cycle.

Key Management Steps

• Remove nearby cedar/juniper trees if possible—this breaks the disease cycle.
• Spray pear with fungicide in spring when orange gelatinous horns appear on cedar galls (usually April–May). This protects developing fruit.
• Monitor for leaf spots—untreated infections can spread to foliage.

Resources

Detailed fact sheets with photos of cedar galls and spray timing:

• WVU Cedar-Quince Rust
• NCSU Cedar-Apple Rust

Act next spring when cedar galls swell—timing is everything for effective control.