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This is a regular complaint from gardeners: Lichen on the stems of our shrubs, trees and bark. In this case: Julie’s treasured Magnolias. 

It kind of makes sense as the shrub or small tree often appears to have more lichen than leaves – mostly smallish buds, not large, impressive flowers. And few leaves that often look small and somewhat discoloured. 

No wonder gardeners are concerned about Lichen! 

Here are the identified species of lichen on our Magnolia: Cartilage Lichen and Common Sunburst Lichen. 

Lichen do not live in or from the plants – they don’t invade the plants or steal nutrients, they just sit there on the branches in the sun. Often the more light or sun there is, the healthier the lichens are. 

Gardeners often think that the plants’ lack of health is due to the presence of lichen but a far more accurate diagnosis is exactly the opposite. Shrubs and trees which are not in the most perfect place (with the best sun or shade) or with a minimal amount of healthy fertilisers or moisture are struggling to keep their growth rates in maximum condition. 

The lichen simply takes advantage of increased sun and light. 

Here is just one example that shows how lichen (in this case many different species) literally establish themselves on tiled roofs. The lichen do not have “roots” to get inside the tiles, or “feed” from the tiles. They therefore don’t damage the surface they live on. 

Lichen is not a plant, but a symbiosis of two or three organisms that work together: fungi and blue-green algae (often Cyanobacteria) and yeasts. The fungus can store water for “the TEAM” and is the home of the algae. The algae can do photosynthesis and shares the sugars with the fungi. They all work together for the past 600 million years on Earth 

“WHEN LIFE CAME OUT OF THE OCEAN… THERE WAS LICHEN!” 

These lichen grow on metal, windscreen glass, and asphalt – known as Sexy Pavement Lichen. 

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