Acer palmatum 'Shin higasa'

This is a rare cultivar, very difficult to find. Origin Japan. It looks as a dwarf form of Higasa Yama with pink variegation and tiny leaves. Very slow grower. This is its second year in my garden. The first pic was taken in May 2005 and the second one today.

Gomero

 

Also looks like Abigail Rose

http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=9663&highlight=abigail+rose

I wonder what might be going on here??

 

Hi Michael,
At first sight it does indeed look close. However reading your description, when you say '

' I cannot say we are talking about the same plant, the 'Shin higasa' has very little new growth. In addition the leaves seem smaller than in 'Abigail Rose'.
The 'Abigail Rose' is not found over here, do you know where it comes from?

Here are two Japanese links to 'Shin higasa' :
http://www.e-momiji.com/~e-momiji/
http://ganshuku.cool.ne.jp/23_3shinhigasa.html

It is also described in the 'Book for Maples' of Masayoshi Yano (page 275) under the name 'Shin hikasa'. It is said that it is also known as 'Sin hikasa yama' and 'Yatsufusa hikasa yama'. It was introduced in 1984 and apparently was found in Saitama Prefecture.

Kind regards,

Gomero

 

Follow up on this unusual cultivar.
I have joined five pics that show its evolution. The first one was taken April 20th, the second one April 30th and the last three May 30th. The growth is slow, new leaves are just 1.5 cm long and 1.5 cm wide with almost no petioles and clustered along the twigs as shown in the third pic. Older leaves can be up to 2.5 cm. These leaves have seven narrow lobes with the margins deeply toothed. Color has changed frrom the early pink to a pale green in the center with white/cream margins.

People ask me if I am applying bonsai techniques, which I do not, to this plant.

Gomero

 

Update on this truly unusual plant. According to Yano's, it was introducced in 1984 in Japan. It is confirmed as an extremely slow grower (no wonder looking at the tiny leaves and colors) and it is more a curiosity than a 'true' plant. It will most likely spend its life in a pot receiving 'intensive care'.
The pics were taken today, I have added a ruler (metric, sorry, numbers refer to cm, 1"= 2.54cm) so you can really appreciate the tiny clustered leaves.

Gomero

 

I have been growing 'Abigail Rose' for a year now and can now confirm it is very different from 'Shin higasa', no doubt about it.
'Shin Higasa' continues to be the daintiest maple in my garden, it is a true grafter's nightmare.

Anybody out there growing it?

Gomero

 

I start to think nobody is growing it ;o))
Is is offered by growers in the US?

Gomero

 

I can't find it for sale here in theU.S.



DV

 

Hi Gomero, I agree with everything you have said. Grafting this would be nearly impossible. This photo was taken 5-18-10 with a macro lens.

 

Hurray!, another enthusiast growing this unique cultivar, I feel in good company now ;-)).

By the way, re-reading the thread I come back to the controversy 'Shin Higasa' vs. 'Abigail Rose': they are completely different, I have been growing them side-by-side in pots and the picture attached proves what I say.

Gomero

 

'Shin Higasa' is new to my garden and was among the last to leaf out, around May 7 of this year. It's such a delicate color and the leaves are so incredibly tiny that I found I couldn't photograph it well with a normal camera lens and had to bring out the macro. Gomero, again I totally agree with you that this cultivar is completely different from 'Abigail Rose.' Of course with both these plants one practically requires a magnifying glass to see them properly.
mapledia

 

I'm excited to say I was able to purchase this plant and just got it in the mail today! I will look for ward to watching it leaf out, and will find a special place on the patio for it. What is your experience with light exposure and this plant? I'm assuming it needs quite a bit of shade...

 

Congratulations Kaitan4. Concerning exposure, mine is in a pot so it changes places every now and then. Lately (2 years) it is in a place where it receives quite a bit of afternoon (hot) sun and does not seem to be bothered. The main problem with this cultivar is die-back, quite a bit of it.

Gomero

 

Thanks for the advice on that Gomero. Not a lot you can do about die-back except hope for the best. The good news is that the plant seems to be quite healthy, so at least it will have a good start. I'm going to put it in a place on the patio with morning sun, afternoon shade and see how that works...

 

this is my Shin higasa,received last week from
http://www.maillot-erable.com/ two days ago sprout ,is very beautiful..
thanks Gomero ;)
what about position?total shade?

 

Alex,

It is so delicate and such a slow grower that my advice would be to keep it in a pot. Then you have the option to move it to a shelterd place during the hot days.

Gomero

 

ok :)

 

Finally, some other people who know about this cultivar!!! I only recently found out about it, and am dying to get my hands on one. I live in Kansas; does anyone know where I can get one here in the US?

 

Eastfork Nursery may be able to get you one. You may have to get on a waiting list or get on her "special sale" list.

 

Thanks, I've actually already contacted her and am waiting to hear back. :) Where did you get yours, by chance?

 

I got mine from Eastfork. Once or twice a year she has a private sale of rare stock from Buchholz Nursery, and I got it at that sale.

Sam is really delightful to work with - you will love her! She helped me get my collections started. Very nice plants, and shipped PERFECTLY.

 

Yay!! Time to do the happy dance. :) Sam is able to get a 3gal Shin hikasa for me! I'll probably have her hold off on shipping it to me since we're still boiling here in the midwest - yet another scorcher, to 108 today. UGH.

 

Well, I got my new baby today - such small leaves and so congested!! :) Not a 3 gallon, just 1, but it is SO cute. Shipped perfectly and, at least thus far (just out of the box), seems to have survived the trip nicely. Now we get to see how it feels about 100+ temps *ugh*

K4 - Since your climate is a little closer to mine, what sort of sun/water/shade requirements have you found work nicely for it?

 

Congratulations!

Well, I have mine in a lot of shade. It gets a little sun in the early morning, then dappled shade til about 10:30, then shade. Regular watering. I have it in a pot on the patio. This one seems a bit prone to mildew, about on the order of Abigail Rose. Keep an eye on it and spray at the first sign.

Enjoy your new baby!

 

Thanks K4. It is a cute thing, that's for sure.

I've checked some of the other threads on the forums, but since I've never experienced it before (to my knowledge), what are the first warning signs of mildew? The powdery white stuff on leaves and branches, or is there something else to watch for as well? Can you pre-emptively treat for mildew, etc, or is it best to actually have it before treating? Any particular fungicide you'd recommend over another?

Thanks!!