Need the images please.

Sorry, took a little longer.

Interesting note here. The nursery I got this from in fall doesn't have any stock left for this spring so that means they did something with it this winter. Current manager has no idea and the previous manager was let go this winter.

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twist my arm and give me the opportunity to start wild rumors i'd say some kind of spray damage. perhaps insect caused, but the symptoms exclude disease.

cupped leaves and that puckering that looks like the midrib of the leaf was pulled in...looks like chemical to me but what do i know

Definitely not a chemical...although I can see how it would look like that type of damage.

I noticed the new growth coming in is disfigured as well.
Hmmm...I might triple check for insects.

It may be snowball aphid. They are difficult to see.. small, white/blue & hidden in the curls & galls they create. I have a severe infestation on my V trilobum, so I now know more than I ever wanted to know about 'em.

**IF** you have snowball aphids there are only 2 things you can do.

1) ride it out & use dormant oil spray next spring before bud break to prevent re-infestation
2) use a systemic pesticide. We have stricter regs here so you will have different options.. talk to a horticulturalist about what to use in your area.

Let me repeat.. sprays (unless they are systemic) will do little to nothing. These are not "regular" aphids. Don't poison unnecessarily.

i told you i wanted to start rumors.

at this point about all you can do is monitor it and see what happens.

does new growth continue with the distortion?

egads, what's the world coming to...seeking out the advice of a local professional?

New growth is definitely disfigured. I don't see any insects, whether I compress the leaves or shake the leaves.

I'm stumped at this point. Doesn't appear to be promising with disfigured new growth.