Tree ID and health

Question: I've seen this type of tree around our area fairly often, also in hedge form, but I can't seem to figure out what it is. It flowers with many small whitish blooms in spring. Ours appears to be afflicted. The small round blights on some leaves and the holes bored in the bark makes me wonder if it's some type of pest. Thanks for any assistance.

responder: Signe Danler, Online Home Horticulture Instructor Replied April 17, 2023, 11:49 AM EDT
response: This looks to be either Photinia (very common and often grown in hedges) or Prunus lusitanica (Portugal laurel). Both have red new leaves. I'm leaning towards the Prunus because it takes a lot of regular pruning to train Photinia as a tree, and also the leaf serrations look a bit more like the Prunus.  However, Photinia is very prone to the sort of leaf spotting your tree is showing, while Prunus lusitanica is much more resistant. https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/photinia-leaf-spot.   If you can send good pictures of healthy leaves and branches, I can tell for sure. Regardless of which it is, the holes in the bark are another matter entirely. Those are caused by sapsuckers, a woodpecker that feeds on sap by drilling holes in trees. https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/pathogen-articles/nonpathogenic-phenomena/recognizing-sapsucker-damage-your-trees They aren't specifically harmful to trees, but the holes can allow fungi or other diseases to enter, and if sapsucker damage is extremely bad it can contribute to tree decline. Do send more photos and I may be able to help more with the leaf spot issue.

responder: The Question Asker Replied April 17, 2023, 1:27 PM EDT
response: Hello and thank you for the quick response. Photos are attached of a (mostly) healthy leaf and newer branch growth, along with another of a small green insect that I have never noticed on the tree before (not that I spend a huge amount of time inspecting it), in case it relates to the leaf damage.

responder: Signe Danler, Online Home Horticulture Instructor Replied April 17, 2023, 3:21 PM EDT
response: Thanks! Your bug is an adorable green leafhopper. Occasionally a problem in great numbers, but certainly not the cause of the leaf spots on this tree. I'm pretty sure it is Photinia, probably P. fraseri. Once it leafs out it will probably look fine as the new leaves disguise the old damaged leaves. Since it is in a full sun location, shade isn't making it more susceptible to leaf spot (a common problem). Is the site well-drained? If not, that could be a problem. Practice good sanitation, removing infected leaves if you can to reduce spread of the fungus If the leaf spot is serious enough that you want to treat it, see the article I linked to above.

responder: The Question Asker Replied April 18, 2023, 1:48 PM EDT
response: We're on historical Willamette floodplain with pretty heavy clay soil. Since the tree is well established, I wouldn't think potentially poor drainage to be the sole cause, but maybe I'm not thinking about it correctly. Based on the page you linked as well as this page, I wonder if our tree isn't going to make it a whole lot longer. Hopefully I'm wrong.  Thanks for the assistance.

responder: Signe Danler, Online Home Horticulture Instructor Replied April 19, 2023, 12:01 PM EDT
response: IF drainage is the problem, it could have been a slow decline which you are only now noticing, because it is getting more visible. Many plants have been under extra stress, too, because of hot summers and these very cold springs, as well as other weather anomalies. It is also possible that something changed nearby to make the drainage worse - perhaps construction nearby that created impervious surfaces that have increased water runoff on your property?