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Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple

$9995 $19995
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Risk-Free 1 Year Warranty

Your Plants are Guaranteed to Grow

Your plants are guaranteed to arrive happy & healthy with our 1 Year Warranty. Your order will arrive healthy and stay healthy while they adapt to your climate. If your tree arrives damaged or dies within 30 days, we'll replace it for free. If it dies after 30 days, but before 1 year, we will replace it for just 50% of the current price.

Free Shipping on All Orders

Relax... we've got you covered with free shipping on every order! We ship out so many huge plants, we've negotiated a low rate with our carriers... and we pass those savings on to you! Your plants will ship out the next business day... expertly packed so that your plants will arrive happy and healthy!

Is Now a Good Time to Plant?

Yes! Fall is one of the best times to plant!

Landscaping experts often recommend planting in fall instead of waiting until spring. Here’s why:

  • Cooler weather puts less stress on newly planted trees and shrubs.
  • Fall soil is still warm, which helps roots grow and get established.
  • Cooler temperatures mean less water is lost through the leaves, making it easier for plants to stay hydrated.
  • Even after top growth slows for winter, roots continue developing below ground.
  • Fall weather often brings more rain and less heat, making new plants easier to care for.
  • By spring, your plants already have a head start. Their established roots can support strong new leaves, branches, and flowers.
  • Trees planted in spring must establish their roots while also dealing with rising temperatures and summer heat.

Plant this fall, and your trees can spend the cooler months getting settled instead of waiting until spring to get started!

Planting your Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple

Planting Instructions for Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple

  1. Choosing the Right Location: Plant your Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple in full to partial sun. In cooler regions it can take full sun, which brings out the deepest red color, while in hot summer climates morning sun with afternoon shade keeps the fine leaves from browning at the edges. It grows in USDA zones 5 through 9 and handles winter lows to about -20 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Soil Preparation: Choose rich, well-drained soil that stays evenly moist but never soggy. Loosen the soil in a wide area and work in compost to improve structure and drainage. Avoid low spots where water pools after rain.
  3. Planting: Dig a hole two to three times as wide as the root ball and no deeper, so the top of the root ball sits level with the surrounding soil. Plant at least 6 to 8 feet from your house, walkways, or other plants so the weeping branches can spread to their full 8 to 15 foot width. Mature trees reach about 6 to 10 feet tall.
  4. Mulching and First Watering: Backfill with native soil and water slowly and deeply to settle it. Spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch over the root zone, kept away from the trunk, to hold moisture and keep the roots cool.

Care Instructions

  1. Watering: Water deeply once or twice a week during the first year, more often in heat or drought. The soil should stay evenly moist but never soggy. Established trees still appreciate a deep soak during long dry spells, especially in the warmer part of their range.
  2. Fertilizing: Laceleaf maples need little fertilizer. If needed, apply a light dose of slow-release tree and shrub fertilizer in early spring, following the label rate. Too much nitrogen pushes soft growth that is prone to damage.
  3. Pest and Disease Monitoring: Look for aphids on new spring growth and scale on the branches, and treat early with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Brown, crispy leaf edges in summer usually mean too much hot sun or dry soil rather than disease.

Maintenance and Long-Term Care

  1. Pruning: This maple needs very little pruning because it forms its weeping dome naturally. In late winter, remove dead or crossing branches and thin a few inner twigs if the canopy looks crowded. Avoid shearing the outside, which ruins the cascading shape, and never remove more than a small portion of growth in one year.
  2. Winter Care: Inaba Shidare is one of the hardiest laceleaf maples. Refresh the mulch layer in fall to insulate roots, and water deeply before the ground freezes if autumn has been dry. Young trees benefit from shelter against harsh winter winds.
  3. Growing in Containers: It grows well in a large container on a patio, deck, or beside a door. Use a wide pot with drainage holes and a quality potting mix, and water whenever the top couple of inches dry out. In colder zones, move the pot to a sheltered spot in winter to protect the roots.

Additional Tips for Growing Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple

  1. Three Seasons of Color: Leaves open a deep purple-red, almost black, in spring, hold a rich red through summer, and turn fiery crimson in fall. Plant it where you can see it from a window or walkway to enjoy the changing color and the soft movement of its lacy leaves.
  2. Growth Expectations: It grows faster than many laceleaf maples and reaches its full cascading shape in about 10 to 15 years. Young plants often focus on root growth their first season, then put on more visible top growth once established.
  3. Design and Shipping Notes: Use it to soften a wall or walkway, anchor a small garden, or star in an Asian-style retreat. It cannot be shipped to Arizona or Oregon because of state agricultural restrictions.
What Customers say about the Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple:

The Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple thrives in Zones 5-9

Growing Zones for the Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple

If you live in the green area above, we recommend the Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple.

Your Growing Zone
Recommended Zones 5-9
Mature Height 6-10 ft.
Mature Width 8-15 ft.
Cannot Ship To AZ, OR
Sunlight Full to Partial Sun
Botanical Name Acer palmatum var. dissectum 'Inaba-shidare'

Plants that Make a Difference

For 20+ years, our team has shipped healthy, established plants to gardeners like you- all across the country. Every plant is selected and cared for by our plant experts before it ships to your door.

  • 20+ Years Experience

  • Superior Quality

  • Free Shipping on All Orders

  • Guaranteed to Grow

Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple

Beware- not all Inaba Shidare Japanese Maples are the same.

Be sure to get superior Japanese maples, grown by experts.

Better Roots Make Stronger Plants: Some nurseries send you "bare root" Japanese maples to save on shipping. Even worse, others have started digging them right out of the ground before shipping. This causes major transplant shock and long-term damage. We send you Inaba Shidare Japanese Maples in soil-filled containers- ensuring a well-developed root system that will explode with growth!

Healthy Plants: We've seen other nurseries grow tall Japanese maples in tiny pots to save on shipping. This leads to a "root bound" tree, where the roots have outgrown their pot- they cannot absorb water and nutrients. They quickly dry out during shipment, leading to an unhealthy tree.

The Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple spills over itself like a fountain of lacy leaves- with color that changes all season long.

  • Three seasons of color: deep purple-red in spring, rich red in summer, fiery crimson in fall
  • Graceful weeping dome that grows 6-10 ft. tall and 8-15 ft. wide
  • One of the hardiest laceleaf maples, growing in zones 5-9
  • More sun tolerant than many laceleaf maples, and faster growing too

Not all plants are created equal

The Difference Is in the Roots

Every plant we ship has grown in a nursery container with its roots protected, so it arrives healthy, established and ready to thrive in your yard.

A full, branched Nationwide Plants tree in a nursery pot next to a thin bare-root tree with exposed roots Ours: container grown Theirs: bare root
Nationwide Plants Other Nurseries
How it's grown Grown in a nursery container, roots protected the whole time Pulled or dug from the field, tearing fragile roots
How it arrives Arrives in its pot with soil intact Arrives bare root, exposed and drying out
Before shipping Growing naturally until it ships Held dormant in a cooler, then shocked by a hot shipping box
Root health Strong, well-developed roots with room to grow Crammed into a small pot until it's root bound
Height Measured from the top of the soil Often includes the pot and roots
After planting Settles in quickly with less transplant shock Arrives stressed and can take years to recover, if it does

The height you see is the height you plant.

We measure every plant from the top of the soil, not the bottom of the pot. Many nurseries include the pot and roots, so a "5–6 ft." tree from them might stand only 4 ft. tall once it's planted.

Comparisons reflect common practices across the online plant industry, not any single company.

Honest Measurements: Some nurseries measure plants including the pot and roots, so the plant you receive is much smaller than you expected. We measure all of our plants from the soil line, so the height you see is what you can expect after planting.

From our nursery to your door

How We Ship Your Plants

Every order is hand-selected, watered and carefully packed so it arrives healthy and ready to plant. Here's what happens after you place your order.

  1. Hand-Picked for You

    Our team selects the best plant available for your order. For privacy trees, that's the tallest and fullest. For fruit trees, it's the best branched.

    Why it matters: Many online nurseries ship whatever is next in the row.

  2. A Deep Drink Before the Trip

    Every plant gets a thorough watering right before it's packed, so it starts the journey fully hydrated.

  3. Roots Sealed In

    We wrap the pot and roots in plastic to lock in moisture, so your plant has water to drink all the way to your door.

    Why it matters: Bare-root plants are often shipped with their roots exposed and drying out.

  4. Braced for the Ride

    Cardboard inserts are secured inside every box to hold your plant in place, so it won't slide, tip or get damaged in transit.

  5. Shipped Only by FedEx

    We ship your trees exclusively with FedEx. We've found they deliver the fastest and handle live plants the most gently.

And if anything goes wrong, every plant is backed by our 1 Year Warranty.

Healthy Roots Make a Huge Difference

  • Never buy bare-root plants. These trees are starved of nutrients, and have a low survival rate.
  • Beware of nurseries cut corners by growing in small pots. These "rootbound" plants are weak, struggle to absorb nutrients, and die quickly after planting.
  • Some nurseries try to sell oversized plants, but chop off vital roots so they can cram the rootball into a narrow box to save on shipping!

You Want Inaba Shidare Japanese Maples Grown by Experts

Some nurseries ship thin, weak Japanese maples grown in tiny pots to save money. These "root bound" trees struggle after planting and take longer to fill out.

Nationwide Plants only sends you strong Inaba Shidare Japanese Maples, selected and cared for by our plant experts, with healthy, developed root systems. That means your tree settles in quickly and starts forming its cascading, colorful dome sooner.

  • 5 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 4 stars: 1 (100%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
N
Nina Tanabe
1-2 ft.

The plant arrived with scorched leaves.
It has new growth leaves so I think it will be fine.

Nina Tanabe review photo

Read more about the Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple

Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple: A Living Fountain of Color

Picture a tree that pours over itself like a frozen waterfall. The Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple does just that. Its lacy leaves cascade in a graceful dome, and the color never stops. Deep purple in spring, rich red in summer, fiery crimson in fall. Few trees give you this much drama in so little space. Pass it by, and you pass by the showpiece your yard has been missing.

Color That Runs All Season

Most trees give you one week of glory. This one gives you three seasons. Leaves open nearly black-purple in spring light, warm to bright red through summer, then blaze crimson in fall. Every month brings a new look. Your yard stays alive with color from the first warm day to the last.

Lacy Leaves Like Fine Threads

Each leaf is cut deep and fine, soft as lace. The branches arch and weep, spilling toward the ground in a gentle dome. Wind makes the whole tree sway and shimmer. It brings movement and grace no flat shrub can match. One look, and your garden feels calm and rich at once.

Big Beauty in a Small Space

You don't need a huge yard to own a stunning tree. Inaba Shidare stays compact, so it fits front yards, tight corners, and borders with ease. It even thrives in a large pot on your patio or by your door. Small footprint, giant impact. Why crowd your yard when this tree does more with less?

Fills In Faster Than Most

Many lace-leaf maples make you wait years. This one grows with purpose. It reaches its full, flowing shape in about 10 to 15 years, quick for a tree this fine. You get the payoff sooner. That means less waiting and more enjoying, season after season.

Tough Where It Counts

Beauty this delicate should be fragile, but it isn't. Inaba Shidare shrugs off cold as low as -20°F. It's one of the hardiest lace-leaf maples you can plant. It also handles part shade with ease, so shady spots are no problem. Strong roots, steady color, and no fuss.

Shapes Itself, So You Don't Have To

Gardening should feel like a joy, not a job. This maple forms its lovely dome on its own, with barely any pruning. Plant it, water it, and let it do the work. It's the perfect low-effort choice for a yard that still turns heads.

Fits Any Garden You Dream Up

Set it as the star of a small garden. Use it to soften a wall or walkway. Add it to a mixed border or a peaceful Asian-style retreat. Wherever it lands, its weeping form looks like it was always meant to be there. One tree, endless ways to make your home stand out.

Don't Let This Beauty Slip Away

Every season you wait is one more without this living fountain of color in your yard. It ships fast, arrives healthy, and comes backed by our guarantee. The neighbors who stop to stare could be staring at yours. Order your Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple today, before you wish you had.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple

How big does an Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple get?

An Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple typically grows 6 to 10 feet tall and 8 to 15 feet wide. Its lacy branches weep and spill into a broad, graceful dome that is often wider than it is tall. That compact height makes it a great fit for front yards, small gardens, borders, and large patio containers.

What zones does the Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple grow in?

The Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple grows in USDA zones 5 through 9. It is considered one of the hardiest laceleaf maples and can handle winter lows down to about -20 degrees Fahrenheit. In the warmest part of its range, give it afternoon shade and steady moisture to protect the delicate foliage.

Can an Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple grow in full sun?

Yes, the Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple grows in full to partial sun and is one of the more sun-tolerant laceleaf maples. In cooler regions it can take full sun, which brings out the deepest red color. In hot summer climates, morning sun with afternoon shade helps prevent the fine leaves from browning at the edges.

What color are Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple leaves through the year?

Inaba Shidare leaves open a deep purple-red, almost black, in spring, hold a rich red through summer, and turn fiery crimson in fall. That long run of color is a big part of its appeal. The finely dissected, lace-like leaves also add soft texture and movement whenever the wind blows.

How fast does the Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple grow?

The Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple grows faster than many laceleaf maples and reaches its full cascading shape in about 10 to 15 years. Growth is steady rather than rapid, which keeps the tree manageable. Young plants often focus on root growth their first season, then put on more visible top growth once established.

How far from the house should I plant an Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple?

Plant an Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple at least 6 to 8 feet from your house, walkway, or other plants so its weeping branches can spread to their full 8 to 15 foot width. Giving it room preserves the natural dome shape and avoids the need to cut back the lovely cascading branches later.

Can I grow an Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple in a pot?

Yes, the Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple grows well in a large container on a patio, deck, or beside a door. Use a wide pot with drainage holes and a quality potting mix, and water whenever the top couple of inches dry out. In colder zones, move the pot to a sheltered spot in winter to protect the roots.

How do I prune an Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple?

An Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple needs very little pruning because it forms its weeping dome naturally. In late winter, remove dead or crossing branches and thin a few inner twigs if the canopy looks crowded. Avoid shearing the outside, which ruins the cascading shape, and never remove more than a small portion of growth in one year.

How often should I water a newly planted Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple?

Water a newly planted Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple deeply once or twice a week during its first year, more often in heat or drought. The soil should stay evenly moist but never soggy. Spread 2 to 3 inches of mulch over the root zone, kept away from the trunk, to hold moisture and keep the roots cool.

Can the Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple be shipped to Arizona or Oregon?

No, the Inaba Shidare Japanese Maple cannot be shipped to Arizona or Oregon because of state agricultural restrictions. It can be shipped to most other states. It is currently offered in 1 to 2 foot and 2 to 3 foot sizes, so you can choose the starting size that suits your garden and budget.
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