It's heavily variegated and you're in Texas - try less sun exposure.

I moved it to a location where it's getting no sunlight at all after 11. That's still too much sun? That was the next thing I was thinking of, but that would put it in deep shade most of the day. I think that may even be my only option at this point. I've just never seen such little sun exposure relatively early in the spring season do this to a plant. But it should have backup buds, right?

I live in 8b in Florida and have my Ukigumo in full shade (well some dappled sun during day) as this variety is notorius for poor sun tolerance. Also, don't be surprised if you don't see much in the way of variegation in our hot humid climates, or at least none for a few years. Even an older tree in 8b may only have fleeting variegation early upon leafing out and then go green.

Please do not equate winter hardiness zones with how a tree (or any other plant) can be expected to perform in any given location during the growing season! One has nothing to do with the other!! There can be a very wide descrepancy between summer conditions in in 8b TX or FL compared to 8b WA!!

Heavily variegated forms of Japanese maples are notoriously difficult to grow successfully in areas with high summer heat and humidity. And one should avoid any direct sunlight, even early day sunlight. Leaf scorch with even very mild sun exposure is common.

Nah, it doesn't look like bacterial blight. Believe me, I know that winter hardiness zones do not tell you much about whether or not they can tolerate heat...I've failed to grow too many things in the Texas heat. Didn't realize Japanese Maples were one of them. I have a Radiant and a Mikazuki, they didn't do too well their first year but they've gotten bigger and have a bigger root system to go with their size and they don't burn nearly as fast. I actually already moved Ukigumo to a full-shade location so hopefully it'll do better now. Or at least has another set of buds.

My remark about the misapplication of the USDA hardiness zones was directed at this comment: "Even an older tree in 8b may only have fleeting variegation early upon leafing out and then go green." The one condition has nothing to do with the other :-) Not all higher zones have excessive summer heat and/or humidity.....they only share a similar winter low temperature range.

Even up here in the far north with low sun intensity, very cool summers and virtually no humidity, this is a mostly shade selection. And if grown in all day dappled or light shade, will retain heavy variegation with almost no green showing all season long.

There are various reputable JM websites that will list cultivars recommended for hot summer climates with high humidity and even those that will tolerate almost full sun in these locations. But Ukigumo is not on any of them......sorry. Nor are many other variegated or reticulated forms. They just dislike that much heat.

Aww, but variegated, reticulated Japanese Maples are my favorite! I usually only grow ornamental flowering trees, but variegated, reticulated Japanese Maples have such beautiful foliage that I make an exception for them! The leaves themselves are like the flowers! I did move Ukigumo and an Amber Ghost I got to a full-shade location, hopefully they can hold on until they have a better root system and grow big enough to uptake enough water to tolerate more heat. I got a Radiant and a Mikazuki to that point, but then they never had the issues that Ukigumo had from the start. Hopefully Ukigumo doesn't die on me! Thanks to everyone for the help.