{"product_id":"shishigashira-japanese-maple","title":"Shishigashira Japanese Maple","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Shishigashira Maple (Acer palmatum 'Shishigashira'), often called the Lion’s Head Maple, is a unique Japanese maple cultivar known for its compact, upright growth and distinctive curled leaves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKey Features:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLeaves: Small, crinkled, and densely packed along the branches, giving the tree a textured and sculptural look. In spring and summer, they’re deep green; in fall, they turn golden yellow to bright orange with red highlights.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGrowth habit: Slow-growing, upright.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBark: Smooth when young, becoming more textured with age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFall colour: Especially prized for its fiery autumn display, often showing multiple colours at once.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCare:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLight: Prefers full sun to partial shade. In hotter climates, afternoon shade helps prevent leaf scorch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eQuirky Facts 🌿\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Lion’s Head\" look: The name Shishigashira literally means Lion’s Head in Japanese because the clustered, curly leaves resemble the mane of a lion. When trained in bonsai, it looks even more like a mythical lion sculpture (shishi).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBonsai favourite: Because of its naturally slow growth, tight leaf clusters, and sculptural form, it’s one of the most prized Japanese maples for bonsai—some 200-year-old bonsai specimens exist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFall fireworks: Unlike many maples that shift from green to a single fall colour, Shishigashira often shows multiple colours at once—green, yellow, orange, and red on the same branch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLongevity: With proper care, it can live for over 100 years, gradually becoming a gnarled, almost ancient-looking tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGarden “jewel”: In traditional Japanese gardens, it’s often placed near a gate or entrance as a focal point—almost like a guardian tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47933241819374,"sku":null,"price":1700.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0671\/3956\/7854\/files\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_7aaf70d2-ea68-45a8-a598-4c969fa0fe7a.jpg?v=1776916186","url":"https:\/\/www.bforbonsai.com\/products\/shishigashira-japanese-maple","provider":"B for Bonsai","version":"1.0","type":"link"}