I recently got my hands on a small Karasu gawa. It has more than doubled in size within the last four weeks. Now, all of a sudden, the lighter colored leaves and leaf portions are browning and curling up. I don't believe that it has been over watered. And it has been in filtered sunlight only. Normally temps are in the low 70s...but we did have a 90 degree spike last weekend.....and I took every precaution that I knew of to protect it...but this happened. Any thoughts....I really can't figure it out and this tree has been so awesome up until now. Help! Cirque
I know you're looking for helpful info - and sorry I just don't know enough about this to comment. But I did have to say that plant has some gorgeous colors on it.
As Alex says, do not worry! The whitish part of the leaves are extremely delicate and even filtered sun at 90°F can result in browning. The plant will sail through that, albeit with some unsightedness. Gomero
As others have said above your tree looks to be in good health. It is just a very finicky cultivar. I have a couple 'Kara su Gawa' trees and whenever temps rise above 90DegF, the leaves start to turn brown. I have one that is on the north side of a house and recieves no sunlight after 12, and after a spell in the high 90's this summer even some of the green leaves turned brown on the edges. This cultivar does not like heat! Not a good thing here in the heat of the southeastern US, LOL. Here is a picture of my picture of my larger one. It gets some sun in the afternoon, and every year the leaves turn this ugly faded yellow. One picture show the 'Kara su Gawa' next to my 'Buterfly'. Notice the 'Butterfly' doesnt mind the sun, but the 'Kara su Gawa' has faded leaves. Mike
Thanks all for the replies. In Western Wa we usually will get some days in the 90s, but this is the first of my maples to show burned leaves. Thats what I figured it was but thought I'd ask anyway. I've learned more in a few months watching this site than in the previous 3 years of collecting maples and reading books. Thanks again Cirque
In Sound Shore NY I have Karasugawa in pretty dense shade and have never had a problem. We normally get a couple of weeks worth of days above 90, and have had a good week already this year. A neighbor is taking down an old cherry that will give me more morning sun, and I am wondering what difference that will make generally in my garden. The maple colors up beautifully, but generally with the second flush of leaves.
Updated pic of my 'Kararu gawa'. All cream or white leaves have fallen, only green leaves are still on tree. It has been like this for about 3 or 4 weeks. All twigs and new bud growth look healthy. Any ideas? Regards Cirque
Relax and dont do anything drastic. As long as the limbs are healthy looking and buds appaer to be forming. It may not leaf out again this year on the branches that dropped leaves. They will bud out next year. In grafting during the summer, we dont leave many leaves and the ones we do often drop. Somteimes they do not leaf back out until the following year. Mike
