Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira'
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Tried and True Recommended by 3 Professionals
Common Name: Japanese maple
Type: Tree
Family: Sapindaceae
Zone: 6 to 8
Height: 7 to 15 feet
Spread: 5 to 12 feet
Bloom Time: April
Bloom Description: Reddish-purple
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Flowers: Flowers not Showy
Leaves: Good Fall Color
Tolerates: Black Walnuts, Rabbits

Culture

Easily grown in moist, organically rich, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Best performance is in sun-dappled part shade, but best fall color is usually in full sun. Best to avoid hot and dry sites. Plant in a location protected from strong winds.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Japanese maple is a multi-stemmed shrub or single-stemmed small tree that typically grows to 10-25’ tall. General plant form is rounded to broad-rounded, often with low-branching. ‘Shishigashira’ is an upright, compact, slow-growing form that typically grows to 7-15’ tall over a number of years. Palmate, 5- to 7-lobed, crinkled, bright green leaves (to 2” long) grow in tufts along the stems. Foliage on young trees may appear sparse. Foliage turns showy shades of gold and crimson in fall. Small reddish-purple flowers in spring are somewhat attractive on close inspection, but are not showy from a distance. Flowers are followed by samaras that ripen in late summer to fall. ‘Shishigashira’ is synonymous with ‘Ribesifolium’ (referring to the resemblance of the leaves to those of Ribes alpinum). ‘Shishigashira’ means lion’s head, and this cultivar is sometimes commonly called lion’s head maple.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Susceptible to stem canker and leaf spots. Verticillium wilt may also occur. Watch for borers, scale, mites and aphids. Good resistance to leaf scorch. Foliage tends to leaf out early in spring and is subject to damage from late spring frosts.

Garden Uses

Japanese maples are generally grown for their attractive foliage and shape. Specimen/accent or group around the home or yard or periphery of the border or rock garden. Multi-stemmed shrub forms are effective in small groupings in shrub borders. May be grown in tubs/patio containers.

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