Japanese Maple Bark Turning White: Likely Dead—Check Cambium

5-Year-Old Japanese Maple with White Trunk, No Leaves After Beetle Attack

Last summer beetles defoliated tree; now no leaves, bark/trunk turning white.

Vitality Test

1. Scrape bark on upper branch tip.
2. Green = alive at that point.
3. Brown = dead at that point.
4. Work down to trunk; if all brown, tree is dead.

Options

• If dead: wait few weeks for root sprouts. If none, replace.
• If alive low down: cut dead top, train sucker as new leader.

White bark often indicates dead tissue. Prognosis poor but check before removing.