Fall Shipping Notice

As temperatures drop (October–December), containerized Japanese maples enter their natural dormancy cycle. Expect fall color development, progressive leaf drop, and eventually bare branches — this is a healthy, expected seasonal transition, not a sign of poor health.

Plant Appearance 

Leaf color and drop timing vary by cultivar, and can differ from what's shown in spring/summer photos on our site. Some trees may arrive partially or fully defoliated depending on ship date — this is normal for dormant deciduous stock and does not affect the tree's viability or structure.

Every tree we ship is inspected and confirmed healthy prior to shipment. Trunk caliper, branch structure, and graft union are fully intact regardless of leaf presence.

Fall and winter shipping is actually an excellent time to plant — trees establish roots before spring growth with less transplant stress.

Overwintering & Hold-for-Spring Option

Container-grown maples left outdoors through winter face risk of root-zone freeze damage, especially in colder climates — this falls outside our guarantee, as overwintering outcomes depend on your local conditions and care, not tree health at time of shipment.

If you're in a cold-winter region, consider asking us to hold your tree and ship in spring instead. This avoids winter risk entirely and gets your tree to you at the start of active growth.

Questions about what to expect for a specific cultivar? Contact us before or after purchase. info@mendocinomaples.com