Shishigashira Palmate Maple Bonsai (10)

Presentation

The Shishigashira Japanese Maple Bonsai (Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira') is a Japanese cultivar recognizable by its small, curled leaves grouped in dense tufts, resembling a lion's mane. This specimen has a plant 43 cm tall, a nebari of 9 cm and a robust trunk with good ramification. Suitable for experienced hobbyists and collectors looking for a deciduous tree with character.

Technical characteristics

• Botanical species: Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira'
• Plant height: 43 cm
• Nebari: 9 cm
• Pot: round, diam. 30 x h. 10 cm
• Pot material: green glazed stoneware
• Total weight: 7.5 kg
• Exposure: outdoor, bright partial shade
• Care difficulty: medium, suitable for experts

How to care for it

Place the bonsai outdoors all year round, in a bright position but sheltered from the direct sun during the central summer hours, which can burn the leaves of the Shishigashira cultivar. The curled leaves tolerate strong wind and intense heat less well than the common Japanese maple.

Water keeping the substrate always moist but never soggy. In summer, watering once a day is often needed, sometimes twice on the hottest days; in winter reduce but never let the root ball dry out completely. Water that is too hard can cause chlorosis on the leaves.

Fertilize from early spring to late autumn, suspending during the hottest months. Use slow-release organic fertilizer or balanced liquid fertilizer, avoiding excess nitrogen which lengthens the internodes and enlarges the leaves, distorting the compact appearance typical of this cultivar.

Structural pruning is done in winter during vegetative dormancy; during the growing season, pinch the shoots to maintain the density of the canopy. The Shishigashira has slow growth and should be worked gradually.

Repot every 2-3 years in late winter, before budding, pruning the roots and using a draining substrate such as akadama mixed with pumice and lapilli. Protect the root system from intense frosts in the first months after repotting.

To learn more about caring for this species, consult the complete botanical sheet.

Frequently asked questions

Q: How does the Shishigashira differ from the classic Japanese maple?

A: The Shishigashira cultivar has smaller leaves, deeply curled and gathered in dense tufts along the short branches. Growth is slower and more compact, with reduced internodes. This makes it highly appreciated for bonsai, because it naturally forms a dense and tidy canopy without the need for too frequent interventions.

Q: Can I keep it indoors?

A: No. The Japanese maple is a deciduous tree of temperate climate and needs to stay outdoors all year round, including the winter period of vegetative dormancy. Keeping it in an apartment causes weakening, abnormal lengthening of the branches and loss of the natural cycle of the seasons. It only needs to be protected from the most intense frosts.

Q: Do the leaves turn red in autumn?

A: Yes. In autumn the leaves of the Shishigashira turn towards orange and red tones before falling, offering a marked seasonal coloration. The color result depends on the exposure to light and on the temperature swings between day and night. In the photo the plant is shown with the green spring-summer vegetation.

Q: How often should it be repotted?

A: Every 2-3 years, in late winter before the vegetative resumption. Given the slow growth of the cultivar, the root system fills the pot less quickly than other species. During repotting the roots are pruned and part of the substrate is replaced with akadama, pumice and lapilli to ensure drainage and oxygenation.

What is included

• Shishigashira Japanese Maple Bonsai in round green glazed stoneware pot — exact specimen in the photo
• Plant certificate (identity card of the specimen with species, measurements and characteristics)
• Reinforced packaging designed to protect the plant during shipping