Botanical Name: Acer palmatum ‘Shishigashira’

Common Name: Lion’s Head Japanese Maple

Mature Height and Width: 8–12′ tall × 6–8′ wide

Growth Habit: Upright, compact, and densely branched; forms a rounded to oval canopy with stiff, ascending branch structure. Internodes are short, creating a tight, architectural framework.

Foliage Description: Small, crinkled, heavily textured palmate leaves with tightly curled margins. Spring and summer foliage is rich medium green with a glossy surface. Leaves cluster densely along upright stems, creating a tufted appearance.

Flower Description: Small reddish-purple flowers in spring; not ornamentally significant.

Bloom Time: Mid-spring

Fall Color: Exceptional golden-yellow to orange with frequent red highlights; often one of the strongest fall displays among green Japanese maples.

Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade; tolerates more sun exposure than many palmatum cultivars in Zones 5–7 when adequately irrigated.

Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 5–8

Notable Landscape Uses:
Architectural specimen for formal gardens; vertical accent in foundation plantings; courtyard focal point; collector gardens; structured element in Japanese-inspired landscapes; suitable for larger decorative containers.

Deer Resistance: Moderate
Not a preferred browse species, but compact new growth can be nipped, particularly in winter or high-pressure deer regions. Young plants are more susceptible and benefit from protection during establishment.

Botanical Name: Acer palmatum ‘Mikawa Yatsubusa’

Common Name: Mikawa Yatsubusa Dwarf Japanese Maple

Mature Height and Width: 6–8′ tall × 4–6′ wide

Growth Habit: Compact, upright to broadly pyramidal form with exceptionally tight, layered branching. Dense, architectural structure with very short internodes creating a stacked, shingled foliage appearance. Slow growing.

Foliage Description: Small to medium palmate leaves (5–7 lobes) held densely along stems. Spring foliage emerges bright green with slight reddish edging, maturing to rich medium green in summer. Leaves overlap tightly, creating a textured, tiered look unique to the cultivar.

Flower Description: Small reddish-purple flowers in spring; not ornamentally significant.

Bloom Time: Mid-spring

Fall Color: Brilliant yellow to orange, often with warm golden tones; color develops evenly across the canopy.

Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade; benefits from some afternoon protection in hotter exposures to prevent leaf scorch.

Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 5–8

Notable Landscape Uses:
Architectural specimen for small gardens; focal point in foundation beds; ideal for Japanese-style or collector gardens; accent in courtyard plantings; suitable for large decorative containers; valued for its distinctive layered structure.

Deer Resistance: Moderate
Not a preferred deer browse, but tender new growth may be sampled in spring or during food scarcity. Dense branching does not prevent browsing if pressure is high. Young plants should be protected in heavy deer areas.

Botanical Name: Acer palmatum ‘Skeeter’s Broom’

Common Name: Skeeter’s Broom Japanese Maple

Mature Height and Width: 8–12′ tall × 4–6′ wide

Growth Habit: Upright, narrow, and compact; dense, broom-like branching structure with tight internodes. Maintains a refined, vertical silhouette with age.

Foliage Description: Small, palmate leaves (typically 5 lobes) emerging bright crimson-red in spring. Summer foliage matures to deep burgundy-red and generally holds color better than many red dwarf forms. Leaves are noticeably smaller and more compact than standard Acer palmatum cultivars.

Flower Description: Small purplish-red flowers in spring; not ornamentally significant.

Bloom Time: Mid-spring

Fall Color: Bright scarlet to crimson-red

Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade; performs well in full sun in Zones 5–7 with adequate moisture.

Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 5–8

Notable Landscape Uses:
Narrow vertical accent in foundation plantings; specimen for smaller landscapes; architectural focal point in courtyard gardens; formal garden designs; suitable for larger decorative containers in protected settings.

Deer Resistance: Moderate
While not a primary deer preference, the compact structure can make new growth accessible. Browsing typically occurs on tender spring growth or in winter when food sources are limited. Young plants benefit from protection in high-pressure areas.

Botanical Name: Acer palmatum ‘Twombly’s Red Sentinel’

Common Name: Twombly’s Red Sentinel Japanese Maple

Mature Height and Width: 15–20′ tall × 6–8′ wide

Growth Habit: Strongly upright, columnar form with a narrow, vertical branching structure. Maintains a tight silhouette compared to broader red Japanese maples.

Foliage Description: Deep burgundy-red palmate leaves (5–7 lobes). Emerges rich crimson in spring and holds dark red coloration well through summer with minimal fading. Leaves are slightly smaller and more compact along vertical stems.

Flower Description: Small purplish-red spring flowers; not ornamentally significant.

Bloom Time: Mid-spring

Fall Color: Bright scarlet to crimson-red

Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade; tolerates more sun than many red Japanese maples in Zones 5–7 when adequately irrigated.

Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 5–8

Notable Landscape Uses:
Vertical accent in narrow planting beds; architectural focal point near entryways; columnar specimen for tight foundation plantings; formal garden settings; contrasting vertical element among low shrubs; suitable for limited-space residential landscapes.

Deer Resistance: Moderate
Japanese maples are not typically preferred browse, but upright forms can experience tip browsing, particularly on young plants in winter or high-pressure deer regions. Protection is recommended during establishment.

Botanical Name: Acer shirasawanum ‘Autumn Moon’

Common Name: Autumn Moon Japanese Maple

Mature Height and Width: 8–10′ tall × 8–10′ wide

Growth Habit: Upright, rounded to broadly vase-shaped form; moderately dense branching with a balanced canopy. Slower growing than Acer palmatum cultivars.

Foliage Description: Large, rounded palmate leaves with 9–11 lobes. Emerges vibrant orange-yellow to chartreuse with pinkish-red margins in spring. Summer foliage matures to soft golden-yellow with orange overlay and subtle green undertones in shade. Color intensity increases with filtered light.

Flower Description: Small purplish-red flowers in spring; followed by ornamental red samaras that may add subtle seasonal interest.

Bloom Time: Mid-spring

Fall Color: Brilliant orange to fiery red

Light Requirements: Partial shade to filtered sun; prefers protection from hot afternoon sun to prevent leaf scorch.

Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 5–7

Notable Landscape Uses:
Specimen tree for woodland gardens; focal point in protected foundation beds; understory accent beneath taller shade trees; courtyard planting; high-end residential landscapes where foliage color contrast is desired.

Deer Resistance: Moderate
While not a preferred browse plant, deer will feed on tender foliage and new growth, especially in spring or during food scarcity. Young plants require protection in high-pressure areas.

Botanical Name: Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Orangeola’

Common Name: Orangeola Dwarf Japanese Maple

Mature Height and Width: 4-6′ tall × 4-6′ wide

Growth Habit: Gracefully cascading, semi-upright dissectum form; develops a strong central structure with long, flowing pendulous branches. More vertical presence than many laceleaf types while retaining a weeping character.

Foliage Description: Finely dissected laceleaf foliage. Emerges bright orange-red to fiery crimson in spring, matures to deep red with bronze undertones in summer, often showing interior green shading in lower canopy.

Flower Description: Small reddish-purple spring flowers; not ornamentally significant.

Bloom Time: Mid-spring

Fall Color: Outstanding orange to scarlet-red; often one of the strongest fall displays among red dissectums.

Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade; best color retention with morning sun and afternoon protection in hotter exposures.

Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 5–8

Notable Landscape Uses:
Specimen tree for island beds; accent near patios or entryways; cascading focal point on slopes; Japanese-style gardens; layered understory planting beneath taller canopy trees; large containers in protected settings.

Deer Resistance: Moderate
Japanese maples are not preferred forage, but deer may browse tender new growth, especially in winter or in high-pressure areas. Young plants are more susceptible than established specimens.

Botanical Name: Acer palmatum var. dissectum ‘Crimson Queen’

Common Name: Crimson Queen Dwarf Japanese Maple

Mature Height and Width: 8–10′ tall × 10–12′ wide

Growth Habit: Low, cascading, mounded form with strongly pendulous, arching branches; develops a layered, umbrella-like structure with age.

Foliage Description: Deep crimson-red, finely dissected laceleaf foliage. Emerges bright red in spring, matures to rich burgundy-red in summer, holding color well compared to many dissectum types.

Flower Description: Small, inconspicuous reddish-purple flowers borne in spring; not ornamentally significant.

Bloom Time: Mid-spring

Fall Color: Brilliant scarlet to deep crimson

Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade; best color retention in morning sun with afternoon protection in hotter exposures.

Hardiness Zone: USDA Zones 5–8

Notable Landscape Uses:
Specimen tree for island beds; focal point in foundation plantings; accent for courtyard and patio gardens; Japanese-style landscapes; cascading element near walls, water features, or slopes; suitable for large decorative containers.

Deer Resistance: Moderate
Japanese maples are not preferred forage, but tender new growth may be browsed, particularly in winter or high-pressure deer areas. Young plants are more vulnerable than established specimens.