Japanese Maple “Sport”: Green Shoot on Purple Cultivar

A green-leaved branch on a purple Japanese maple is usually a sport—a genetic reversion to the parent cultivar (often ‘George L. Taber’). If the shoot originates below the graft union, it’s rootstock and should be removed immediately. If it arises from a purple branch, it’s a true sport; prune it out at the base unless you want to propagate the reversion.