From Diana at Topiary Gardens. "Small, creamy white leaves with dark green veins will shine in a dark shaded area of the garden. In the summer, the leaves will become light cream-green with dark veins. Still very showy. Leaves are heavily serrated and smaller than 'Shigitatsu sawa'. Brilliant yellow fall color. This small tree will have a broad crown. 16 ft tall and 10 ft. wide at maturity. Best fresh look will be in dappled shade." Anyone know what the name would translate to?
I'm no expert, but I believe literally it would mean: star of the sandpiper (or snipe) However, I suspect "shigi" is a play off of shigitatsu sawa (snipes rising from the swamp) with "no hoshi" referring to a star. Since it comes from a poetic background, I'm not sure if it translates properly without understanding the poem. The intended meaning is certainly deeper with shigitatsu sawa and I suspect it is no different with shigi no hoshi.
Figured I should post some more pictures of this lovely cultivar. I keep it in bright shade through the summer due to our intense sun/heat, like my Filigree, but I believe it could handle some morning sun and/or dappled sun later in the day. Growth habit seems to be very broad and somewhat pendulous. The reticulation does wash out a bit in the dead of summer (first pic is from July last year), but is still visible. The other two pictures are from a couple days ago.
That is a good looking cultivar...may have to have one of those myself. I have a thing for reticulates.
Hope there are many more D. There have been none for 5 years till this. It certainly deserves more attention.