Pocket Botanist
Check these first
- Assess the light levels in the current location.
- Check if the plant is leaning toward a window.
- Look at the distance between leaf nodes.
Likely causes
Insufficient light
Most likelyHow to tell: The stems are long and thin with large gaps between the leaves. The plant leans heavily toward the nearest window.
What to do: Move the plant to a spot with bright indirect light and some morning sun. Rotate the pot every week so all sides get equal light exposure.
Lack of pruning
PossibleHow to tell: The plant is tall and sparse even though it has good light. It has not been trimmed in a long time.
What to do: Prune back the long stems by one third to encourage branching. Do this in early spring to help the plant grow a fuller shape.
Find out what's wrong with your flowering maple
The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
When to worry
It is normal for the plant to grow tall over time, but it should not be weak or floppy. If it cannot support its own weight, it needs more light and pruning.
Stopping it coming back
Prune your flowering maple annually and ensure it receives consistent bright light throughout the year.
Flowering Maple: leggy growth? Check yours with a photo
Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your flowering maple and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.
Scan with your phone's camera to get the app
Or go to pocketbotanist.app/get on your phone
Get the app · Or check it from a photo now, free
Questions people ask
- Can I prune my flowering maple at any time?
- It is best to prune in early spring before the main growth season. You can do light trimming throughout the year to maintain shape.
- Will pruning make it flower more?
- Yes, pruning encourages new growth, and since flowers appear on new wood, it will lead to more blooms.
More problems with Flowering Maple
- Why are my flowering maple's leaves turning yellow?
- Why are my flowering maple's leaves curling?
- Why is my flowering maple drooping?
- Why is my flowering maple losing its leaves?
- Why is my flowering maple not blooming?
- Why are there bugs on my flowering maple?
- Why are my flowering maple leaves getting brown tips?
- What are these spots on my flowering maple leaves?
- Why is my Flowering Maple showing signs of root rot?
Back to the Flowering Maple guide
This article was generated with AI on from the plant’s care profile and is general information, not horticultural advice. Read about how we build these guides.