Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira'
(Lion's Head Maple)
Family - Sapindaceae
Category - Shrub
Year of Introduction - 1882
Season of Interest - Spring, Summer, Autumn
Hardiness - H6
Height - 2.5m or more
Width - 2.5m
Location - The Cool Garden
Description: A medium to large-sized Deciduous Shrub with a bushy, habit and dense, upright branches. Rich dark green leaves are palmately lobed with a crinkled appearance and have coarsely toothed margins. The leaves are densely held in tufts on the stubby, upright branches and from a distance, the Shrub's overall outline is reminiscent of a lion's head. The name 'Shishigashira' is a reference to a mythical lioness. Small purplish-red flowers are held in pendent Corymbs and produced in mid-spring. The flowers are followed by attractive winged seed pods. The foliage turns attractive shades of yellow and orange in autumn before falling.
Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Synonyms - Acer palmatum 'Shish geshira', A. p. 'Mejishi', A. p. 'Ribesifolium'.
Additional common name - Japanese Maple 'Shishigashira'
Flower:
Small, deep purplish-red flowers are held in pendent corymbs. The inconspicuous flowers are produced in April and followed by attractive samaras.
Flower colour: Red
Flower shape: Small flowers in corymbs
Flowering time: April
Foliage:
Rich dark green leaves are palmately lobed with pointed lobes and jagged, Dentate margins. The foliage has a crinkled appearance. The leaves are held in dense tufts on the stubby, upright branches. The leaves are more sparse and held in opposite pairs on the new growth. The foliage turns attractive shades of orange in yellow before falling in autumn.
Foliage Senescence: Deciduous
Foliage Shape: Palmately lobed
Autumn Colour: Orange, yellow
Propagation:
Grafting.
Cultivation:
Best in full sun to partial shade in fertile, moisture retentive soil that is well drained. This plant prefers a soil that is neutral to acidic.