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'Shishigashira'
(meaning "Lion's Head") is a distinctive architectural Japanese maple celebrated for its unique crinkled, deeply textured deep green leaves that create an appearance unlike any other cultivar. The wrinkled, puckered foliage provides exceptional texture and visual interest throughout the growing season, making it instantly recognizable and highly prized among collectors. Develops a distinctive architectural upright form with compact, dense branching that creates a beautiful columnar silhouette—mature specimens develop a characteristic widening mid-trunk that adds unique character and visual interest. Reaches 8-12 feet tall with a narrow spread of 4-6 feet, making it perfect for narrow spaces, formal gardens, or as a striking vertical accent. Autumn delivers beautiful golden yellows with hints of red and orange for a warm seasonal finale. Thrives in both sun or shade, making it exceptionally adaptable to various garden conditions. The compact dense branching, slow growth, unique crinkled foliage, and naturally upright form make 'Shishigashira' exceptional for bonsai culture and containers—it's a favorite among bonsai enthusiasts for its responsive training and distinctive appearance. Perfect as a specimen tree, in narrow spaces, formal gardens, Japanese gardens, bonsai culture, containers, or anywhere you want exceptional architectural form with unique textured foliage. An essential choice for collectors seeking a distinctive cultivar with unmatched character and year-round beauty.
Japanese maples are among the most versatile and admired ornamental trees, prized for their elegant form, refined foliage, and year-round visual interest. Suitable for both garden planting and bonsai cultivation, these trees adapt beautifully to a wide range of landscapes and growing styles.
Japanese maples are available in a wide variety of natural forms, including:
Their graceful branching structure provides beauty even in winter once leaves have fallen.
Cultivars display a remarkable range of ornamental traits, including:
Leaf shapes range from finely dissected laceleaf forms to broader, classic palmate leaves.
Japanese maples are highly valued for bonsai due to their fine branching, ability to reduce leaf size, and responsiveness to pruning and training. At the same time, they perform exceptionally well as garden trees—whether planted in the ground, grown in containers, or used as focal points in Japanese-inspired landscapes.
Typical Japanese Maple growth form
We offer Japanese maples in several size categories. Measurements are approximate and provided as a general guideline.
| Size Category | Height | Trunk Diameter | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4" Liners | 6–12 inches | ¼–½ inch | Young plants ideal for training, bonsai, or growing on |
| Standard 1-Gallon | 6–24 inches | ¾–1½ inches | Well-established plants suitable for landscape or container growing |
| 1-Gallon Extra Large (XL) | 12–48 inches | ¾–2 inches | Grown for a longer period, resulting in better branching, thicker trunks, and a more mature appearance |
Please note: Plant size and form will vary depending on the cultivar purchased. Dwarf varieties will naturally be smaller and more compact than standard varieties, even within the same pot size.
Grown in Canada, for Canada. All our Japanese maples are cultivated and shipped from our Canadian nursery with care, ensuring they arrive healthy and ready to thrive in your climate.
