Sick Japanese Maple

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

I have a japanese maple that I’ve had for four years. A year after I planted the tree it began to have issues. The tree grows two distinct types of leaves - small deformed variegated ones, and larger non variegated and non deformed ones. As mentioned, the variegated leaves are deformed. Many of the branches don’t have leaves so the tree looks sparse. Any ideas as to what my tree is suffering from?

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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

4 years ago

Thanks for additional photos. It has some tip dieback, which is not at all unusual for Japanese maples, even in our climate. So when you are removing the reverting stems, I would remove any dead wood as well.

We can't see how the tree was planted so there could very well be some root issues that are affecting healthy growth. Could be planted too deeply, it could be that the roots are circling rather than extending out into the soil, it could be that soil drainage is not as good as it needs to be.

And that seems to be a very bright, sunny location. Heavily variegated JM's like this one really need to be in all day dappled shade or at least in shade during the midafternoon. Too much sun or afternoon heat can stress the tree to the point where healthy growth may be compromised.

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Comments (20)

Jean
4 years ago
the tree is reverting. Remove the branches with the large green leaves. If you don't, they will take over.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
4 years ago
I'd like to see a close-up of the deformed leaves to understand better what you mean. Also, in what part of the world do you reside, Judy?
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Thank you SO much for responding! We live in Maryland and Maryland weather never is normal. One day could be winter and the next summer it's really bizarre, BUT now that you mention it there was a period where spring came (march?), flowers started blooming, then BAM back down to the 30s! It was so drastic I remember thinking wow, this is even crazy for Maryland weather! I can definitely ask around to see if anyone else here is having issues. How do I tell which branches are dead? Do I cut them off at the trunk? I've never had a watering practice since nature has taken good care of him for so long. I'm guessing I should start one? I can't think of any droughts. Thanks again!
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
Many variegated Japanese maples have small leaves that have an unusual, sickle shape to them.......they are not 'deformed'.......that's just the way they grow.

I agree with jean that the large green leaves are reversions and need to be removed. The variegated form is considered far more desirable than the straight green.

As to what else might be ailing your tree, we need much clearer and closer photos of the entire plant. And you might try posting in the Maples forum for some very specific advice
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
didnt you buy the variegated variety ??? ... if so ... then the green is unwanted ... so it should be properly pruned off ... the all green version is much more aggressive than the variegated.. so.. as jean said.. it will eventually take over the plant ...

a plant that size.. variegated.. is a couple hundred dollar plant ... the green version.. might be a 20 dollar plant ... if you want to focus on value ... [just some made up numbers to make the point]

as to whether the variegated leaves have a problem ... deformity.. you would need to give us a pic of such.. to see if we can see anything ... while you are out there.. look at the back of the leaves ... and see if you find any aphids.. or other sucking bugs ... that might be causing such ...

ken
OklaMoni
4 years ago
Most likely has something to do with the grafting process.

Moni
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
Reversion has nothing to do with grafting. It occurs with all kinds of variegated plants that are never grafted. Variegation is often a sport or chimera and not always 100% stable.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years ago
correct.. the graft is within one foot of the soil.. or so ... the green is randomly around the tree 4 to 5 feet out ... some branch buds reverted ...

if it were below the graft ... it is the understock budding out ... and all understock is just a plain old whatever ... in this case something in the Acer aka maple family ...

you wouldnt use the term reversion... in regard to the understock.. it is.. what it is ...

and it is not necessarily reverting to the understock.. since we dont know if the named variegated cultivar ... is directly related to the understock ... if that is clear ... which i doubt it is.. since the leaf shape is so wildly different .. but thats just a guess ... perhaps others can ID both form the pix ...

words mean things.. so i simply mean to give you some words to help you understand what might be going on ...

ken
Judy
Original Author
4 years ago
Here is a close up of the deformed variegated leaves. We are in Vancouver Canada.
Judy
Original Author
4 years ago
Here are both leave sets together
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
The variegated leaves are not really deformed....that is the way they nornally look. The cultivar is most probably 'Oridono Nishiki' and according to Vertrees "strongly variegated leaf portions will curve or be sickle-shaped" and that is exactly what yours is doing.

Other than the reverting solid green branches, your tree looks perfectly fine to me although a bit sparse with foliage. Is it in the ground or in a container?
Judy
Original Author
4 years ago
In the ground, so why so sparse with foliage, any thoughts.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
Not sure. The photos are quite dark and don't show the whole tree or its siting. More info might help.
Judy
Original Author
4 years ago
Leaves missing on many branches
Judy
Original Author
4 years ago
Picture of whole tree
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years ago
if you were in MI ... i might suggest a cold event.. some time during winter.. or even spring.. causing random bud death.. ergo... less leaves ...

can you think of any such thing.. out of the ordinary since last fall??? .. in your area???

ken
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
OP's area is almost identical to mine and no "cold event" severe enough to cause bud death. We did have a freak February cold snap and heavy snow but that should be a non-issue. It didn't faze any of my JM's and all mine are grown in containers, so much more vulnerable to cold damage.
Judy
Original Author
4 years ago
Also have noticed that the dead branches on the tree have a spider like web on them.
bob_cville
4 years ago
That could be clear evidence of spider mites, which pierce and suck the juice from leaves and stems.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
4 years ago
Except that it's not :-) Spider mites on outdoor plants in the PNW are extremely rare, especially on anything that is deciduous....it is just too damp or humid here most of the year. And the webbing is far more characteristic of an ordinary garden spider than it is of mites.

Whatever might be ailing this maple, it is not mites!

Sick Japanese Maple

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

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Jean

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

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