What type of growth/plant/fungus is this growing on our spruce/pine trees?

Question: This is a new growth on the spruce/pine trees or bushes growing along side our property and we’ve never seen anything like it before. We are wondering if it’s a fungus or some type of invasive plant that could spread or destroy our trees/bushes. It has just shown this spring and never seen it before and the last 8 years since they’ve been planted. It currently is growing on 2 separate trees. We are in Deale, Maryland 20751.

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied May 01, 2023, 12:35 PM EDT
response: This is a fungus called rust, and there are many species that naturally occur in our area. Although various rusts largely all look alike, they require very specific host plants and won't cross-infect just any garden plant. Some rust fungi only infect one plant type while others bounce back and forth between unrelated plant hosts in order to complete their life cycle. The linked Ohio State University web page provides more information about these interesting and unusual fungi.  The Juniper host (the evergreen you pictured) where these orange spores are currently being produced probably won't die from the infection, especially not the kind of rust this appears to be (Cedar-Apple Rust). The spores are taking advantage of the recent wet weather and are now blowing/splashing onto their next host plant, a member of the rose family, where it will spend part of this year before returning to a Juniper. Vulnerable hosts in the rose family that we grow in gardens include several native or fruiting trees like Serviceberry, Hawthorn, Apple, Crabapple, and Pear.  For trees whose fruit is to be harvested, preventative fungicide sprays are the only way to suppress infection (though it usually can't prevent it entirely). Some cultivars are rust-resistant, though when disease pressure is high (meaning there are lots of spores in the vicinity), none are immune. Fungicides on decorative plants not grown for a fruit harvest can be used as well, but generally isn't warranted since rust is often more of a cosmetic eyesore than a serious disease and fungicides might risk negative impacts on other organisms in the process. Fungicide is not typically used on the Junipers, nor would it cure an existing infection. For now, if you want to reduce spore spread, wait for dry weather and trim off the Juniper twigs that have these galls (the twig swellings that are fungus-infected and capable of producing the spores) and dispose of them.  Miri

responder: The Question Asker Replied May 02, 2023, 8:37 PM EDT
response: Thank you so much for the detailed information & for responding so quickly. We truly appreciate it and it will be extremely helpful to us for the future. Have a great rest of your week!Thank you, Kelly Higdon On May 1, 2023, at 12:35 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:﻿

responder: Answered by the Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC), University of Maryland Extension. For timely gardening information and tips, subscribe to our Maryland Grows blog and quarterly newsletter. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. Replied May 03, 2023, 11:15 AM EDT
response: you're welcome! you too!