ACER PALM. SHAINA

Acer palmatum 'Shaina' is a compact, slow-growing Japanese maple valued for its dense, rounded habit and rich red foliage. Leaves open bright red in spring, deepen to dark red-maroon through summer, and colour vividly in autumn, providing long seasonal interest. Grow in a moist but well‑drained, fertile, humus-rich soil that is preferably acidic to neutral, and avoid chalky conditions. In Ireland, site in sun or light shade with good shelter from cold, drying winds and strong early spring sun to reduce leaf scorch. An excellent choice for small gardens, containers, and Japanese‑style or architectural planting, typically forming a neat focal point around 2–3 metres in time.

To help give a clear sense of scale, the stone wall shown in our photos measures approximately 265cm in height. We also use familiar garden tools as visual references: a digging fork (110cm tall) and a hand fork (30cm tall). These are included purely as size guides to help you better judge proportions when viewing the images.

Position: Sun or light shade; sheltered from cold, drying winds

Rate of Growth: Slow

Soil: Moist but well-drained, fertile, humus-rich; preferably acidic to neutral; avoid chalk

Hardiness: Fully hardy (RHS H6)

Plant at a Glance