Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira' Grafted

This is the Japanese maple that looks carved rather than grown. ‘Shishigashira,’ often called the Lion’s Head Maple, forms dense clusters of tightly curled leaves packed along short, upright branches. The foliage gathers in tufted rosettes at the ends of the shoots, giving the tree a textured, almost sculptural character even from a distance.

Spring leaves emerge bright green, thick and crinkled, and remain a clean rich green through summer heat when many finer-leaf maples struggle. Come autumn, the tree transforms dramatically into glowing gold, orange, and often deep pumpkin tones — one of the most dependable fall displays among upright Japanese maples.

The growth habit is narrow and vertical, naturally compact and slow. It behaves almost like a living column, making it ideal where a full spreading tree would overwhelm the space. Even in winter the structure remains handsome: short internodes, stout twigs, and a formal silhouette that requires almost no intervention.

Mature Size
10–15 ft. tall
5–8 ft. wide (upright, columnar)

Growth Rate
Slow

Light Requirements
Full sun to partial shade
More sun tolerant than many Japanese maples once established, though afternoon protection is helpful in very hot climates

Soil
Well-drained soil rich in organic matter
Prefers slightly acidic soil (pH 5.5–6.5)

Watering
Regular moisture during establishment
Moderate watering thereafter; avoid constantly wet soils

Cold Hardiness
USDA Zones 5–9

Landscape Uses

• Vertical accent near entryways

• Courtyard or patio specimen

• Foundation planting where width is limited

• Japanese-style gardens and formal plantings

• Container specimen in large decorative pots

Very little pruning is needed. Remove only dead or crossing branches in late winter. Heavy cutting destroys the natural clustered form — and that clustered form is the entire reason to grow it.

‘Shishigashira’ is not showy in the usual sense. It is dignified. The kind of tree that looks proper beside brick, stone, or an old walkway and seems to have been there longer than the house.

DISCLAIMER - WE ADVISE THAT THE BEST TIME TO SHIP IS FROM OCTOBER TO MAY. SHIPPING OUTSIDE OF THAT TIME PERIOD CAN BE EXTREMELY STRESSFUL TO ANY LIVING PLANT. ON MOST OCCASIONS, PLANTS WILL SURVIVE THAT STRESS AND GO ON TO THRIVE. HOWEVER, OCCASIONALLY SOME WILL PERISH.  WE DO NOT GUARANTEE TREES THAT WE DON’T PLANT, SO ONLINE SALES ARE AS IS. WE DO NOT SHIP TREES IN CONTAINERS/POTS AS TO AVOID EXCESSIVE SHIPPING CHARGES. WE SECURE TREE ROOTS IN LARGE PLASTIC BAGS PACKED WITH WET MEDIUM. IF YOU WISH TO SPECIFY A SHIP DATE, PLEASE INCLUDE A NOTE WITH YOUR ORDER. OTHER WISE IT WILL SHIP AS SOON AS WERE ABLE. WE DO NOT ACCEPT CANCELLATIONS ONCE AN ORDER IS PLACED. PLEASE KNOW WHAT YOU ARE ORDERING. SHIPPING TO ALASKA AND HAWAII IS EXTRA. OUR SHIPPING TIMEFRAME IS AN ESTIMATE NOT A GUARANTEE AS WE ARE AFFECTED BY WEATHER EVENTS, STAFFING ETC.  These trees are 3'-4' in the pot. Tightly congested, crinkled foliage arranged along stiff upright branches characterizes this old and famous Japanese Maple known as the 'Lion's Head' maple. This name relates to an old ritual in Japan where dancers wore costumes for the 'lion dance' to exorcise evil spirits. The name 'shishigashira' refers to two different cultivars, 'Meijishi' and 'O jishi', both grown in Japan for a long time. However, the cultivar 'Meijishi' is what is generally grown and called 'Shishigashira'. The tree will grow to 5-8 ft tall over time with branches ascending in a steep angle upwards. The color is dark-green until fall when the leaves turn orange before dropping. A.p. 'Shishigashira' will develop a very sculptural form that gets better over time. One of the last to turn color in the fall. Hardy to zone 6. Makes a great patio tree.