© 2024 South Carolina Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

The Odd World of Galls

Making It Grow Minute
SC Public Radio

Hello Gardeners, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. Galls caused by insects or other invertebrates can be fascinating.   The interaction of the host plant’s hormones and the chemicals produced by the developing insect can cause growths  that make you think aliens from outer space invaded the plant.

Horned oak galls have “horns” – when the developing wasp is ready to emerge it chews a hole in the horn to exit. The Wool sower galls grow only on white oaks  – they can be several inches across  and look like a wad of slightly dirty cotton with seeds in it –   structures that contain the individual developing wasps. The jumping oak gall makes me want to go to California to see it  – the galls fall off the trees with the developing wasp inside them – and  sometimes jump as the insect grows.  Most galls are harmless  -=-- only a few  occasionally cause injury.

Stay Connected
Amanda McNulty is a Clemson University Extension Horticulture agent and the host of South Carolina ETV’s Making It Grow! gardening program. She studied horticulture at Clemson University as a non-traditional student. “I’m so fortunate that my early attempts at getting a degree got side tracked as I’m a lot better at getting dirty in the garden than practicing diplomacy!” McNulty also studied at South Carolina State University and earned a graduate degree in teaching there.