Growing In My Garden

Thanks to the Honey Tree Nursery for this information on our newest Japanese Maple.

Acer Palmatum “Shishigashira”

Also known as ‘Lion’s Head’ is a small Japanese maple. It grows in a stiff vase shape. The lion’s head maple has short stubby twigs growing from short branches covered with dense deep green foliage.

Mature specimens form a broad oval. This combined with the densely layered ruffled branches give it the appearance of a lion’s head, especially with the outstanding deep orange and yellow gold fall foliage. The lion’s head maple is one of the last trees to turn color in the fall. It could be November before the foliage begins to take on a golden color.

It has attractive green foliage which emerges red in spring. The crinkled palm-shaped leaves are ornamentally significant and turn an outstanding harvest gold in the fall. It features subtle corymbs of burgundy flowers rising above the foliage in mid spring before the leaves. It produces red samara from early to mid fall. The rough gray bark and red branches add an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Zone: 5 to 8

Hardiness: hardy
Height: 18 feet
Container Height: 12 feet
Spread: 15 feet wide
Growth rate: upright – moderate.
Spring Foliage: red–green
Summer Foliage: green
Fall Foliage: harvest orange
Sun: sun to filtered sun  or partial shade
Maintenance: Low

Below are photos of our Shishigashira sitting on our deck. It sits about 6.5 feet tall including the pot.

Lions Head Japanese Maple – Shishigashira – sitting on my deck.

Lions Head Japanese Maple – Shishigashira – sitting on my deck.