Shin deshojo

Character & interest

‘Shin deshojo’ is a true “show” cultivar at budbreak, but not only that: its naturally bushy, well-branched silhouette makes it easy to place and highlight. It is especially suitable if you are looking for a spring-red maple with a strong, structured presence (even outside the peak colour period).

Colours

• Spring : very vivid scarlet/crimson red on the young leaves.

• Summer : foliage turning green (often rosy green or green with light speckling depending on exposure and flushes).

• Autumn : red-orange to red.

Habit & vigour

Compact, bushy and dense habit. Slow to moderate growth; it holds its shape well without heavy pruning, which makes it very suitable for container growing.

Indicative size

Observed orders of magnitude depending on sources and training:

• about 2 m is a commonly quoted figure,

• some references indicate 1.5–2.5 m (height and spread) at maturity,

• in the ground and under favourable conditions, higher figures are sometimes reported depending on training and age.

Exposure

Gentle sun / bright partial shade. A sheltered position (dry winds, scorching sun) helps preserve foliage quality.

Origin & history

The name is generally understood as “New Deshojo” (shin = “new”), and it is frequently presented as a selection close to / derived from ‘Deshojo’.

What distinguishes it from ‘Deshojo’ (according to available sources, with variation depending on cultivation):

• Habit: ‘Shin deshojo’ is often described as more compact and bushier.

• Budbreak: spring red considered very intense, and often said to hold better over several weeks.

• Summer: ‘Shin deshojo’ may show green foliage with rosy nuances and sometimes a pale-speckled / lightly variegated look, a trait less typical of ‘Deshojo’.