give it a few more weeks.. and see if it buds out...

i have a couple that look the same... i am trying real hard to be optimistic ... lol ...

if you have a warranty.. use it ...

ken

The green at the bottom looks like algae or lichen. Not a problem but unrelated to weather the tree is alive or not. If it's not brittle it sounds OK. Give it some more time.

After this winter I am issuing my own zone ratings for trees. Here in zone 6 with my -10ish lows this year I have some damage to my Japanese maples.

Best of luck to you. In about a month it should be obvious what is not rebudding. I'll have to remember June is not a great time to plant replacements.

It doesn't look promising. If June/July and no signs of life, yank it. Do wait though until then. You may have "advantageous buds" arise from where the green is at the base... that's what you're hoping for.

Dax

Buds should be present NOW, even if a bit too early to leaf out. JM buds are formed in fall and should continue to develop through winter and swell in spring. You can check to see if any viable buds are present by looking at the stems and seeing the paired growth nodes - these are where the buds should be. Gently rub one off and see if the tissue is green and healthy or brown and dry.

Brown and dry is not good :-(

Any adventitious buds appearing from the base will most likely be rootstock, not the named form grafted on top. And that may or may NOT be what you want :-)