MrMaple.com - Nichols Nursery - NC - Japanese Maple

‘Shishigashira’ is a very unique upright green cultivar. The deep green leaves are crinkled with compact branching that adds to the amazing architectural shape of the tree. The growth habit is very dense branching with a widening effect midway up on mature trees. The color in early spring is a deep green and it holds this color very well throughout the entire summer. In the autumn ‘Shishigashira’ puts on an amazing show of deep yellows and golden shades with hints of red and orange. This cultivar is often referred to as Lion’s Head in America but a more literal translation refers to the head of a specific male lion character in Japanese drama. When witnessing the amazing fall spectrum it is easy to see how this majestic look has become associated with a lion’s mane. ‘Shishigashira’ grows well in sun or shade though we have noticed the tree consistently grows larger in filtered light. The height can reach 8-12 feet overtime. This is a favorite in the bonsai trade for its unique growth habit and is also an excellent tree for container growing for a porch or patio. It makes a great addition for anyone looking for something a little interesting, unique, and outside the box.