Japanese Maple Anthracnose
Japanese maple tree diseases come in two main forms.
Japanese maple anthracnose. On japanese maple trees anthracnose first appears as tan lesions that eventually coalesce to kill most or all of the leaf. Black tar like spots appearing on the leaves is a sure sign the japanese maple is infected with anthracnose. Anthracnose is most serious. Japanese maple trees are susceptible to diseases such as anthracnose verticillium wilt tar spot leaf spot leaf scorch and root rot.
On japanese maple lesions occur along primary veins and leaf margins and appear as tan colored papery spots. There are two types of blight. On japanese maples cankers look tan or grey compared to the usual red color of healthy branches. Some of these diseases are potentially deadly while others are usually harmless and merely cosmetic.
Anthracnose fungi overwinter within senescent leaf tissue and in infected twigs and buds. On sugar maple lesions occur along primary veins and appear as large brown blotches. This fungal disease results in distorted foliage stem dieback cankers. Three types of fungi routinely present problems for japanese maple trees.
These fungi are botrytis fusarium and verticillium. Young leaves and shoots shrivel and blacken. Certain varieties of japanese maple planted in wet warm climates are prone to this fungus.