Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple

One of the finest laceleaf Japanese maples ever selected — deep purple-red foliage, a graceful weeping form, and exceptional heat tolerance that sets it apart from the rest.

Inaba Shidare (Acer palmatum dissectum 'Inaba Shidare') is a classic laceleaf Japanese maple prized for its deeply dissected, feathery purple-red foliage and its exceptional ability to hold color through summer heat. Where many red laceleaf maples fade to bronze-green by midsummer, Inaba Shidare stays richly purple-red through the season before turning brilliant crimson-scarlet in fall. The graceful, cascading branches form a broad, mounding dome that becomes more sculptural and dramatic with every passing year. It's one of the most heat-tolerant laceleaf maples available — a significant advantage in warmer climates.

What I love about it

Inaba Shidare is the laceleaf maple that performs in the heat. The color retention through summer is genuinely superior to most dissectum varieties — the purple-red stays rich and saturated even when temperatures climb. The finely cut foliage is extraordinarily delicate and beautiful, and the cascading weeping form is naturally sculptural. Plant it as a specimen in a bed, near a water feature, or in a large container where its form can be appreciated up close. It only gets more beautiful with age, and it's one of the few laceleaf maples that gardeners in warmer zones can grow with confidence.

Plant Care Tips

• ☀️ Light: Full sun to part shade — afternoon shade appreciated in hot climates
• 💧 Water: Water deeply until established; moderate water needs once mature
• 🌡️ Temperature: Hardy to -20°F (Zone 5); exceptional heat tolerance
• 🪴 Difficulty: Easy — low-maintenance once established
• 🐾 Pet Safety: Non-toxic to cats and dogs
• ✂️ Pruning: Minimal needed; light shaping in late winter if desired

Plant Specs

• Mature Size: 8–10 ft tall, 10–12 ft wide (wider than tall)
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
• Foliage: Deep purple-red laceleaf; holds color through summer; brilliant crimson fall color
• Form: Broad, cascading weeping dome
• Growing Zone: 5–8

Bloom bold. Be cheeky.