Kurui jishi

Character & interest

The charm of ‘Kurui jishi’ comes from its incurved foliage: the lobes roll upward, creating a very graphic, “textured” look. It is often compared to ‘Okushimo’ for leaf shape, but it is generally described as smaller and denser, with tight branching.

Colours

• Spring : soft green to green, sometimes with a slightly coppery tint on young growth depending on conditions.

• Summer : dark green; leaf edges often very tightly rolled (most marked in hot periods).

• Autumn : golden yellow to orange, sometimes orange-red or red depending on exposure and the year.

Habit & vigour

Upright and compact habit, with a tendency to form a very dense mass (short internodes). Slow to moderate growth.

Indicative size

Order of magnitude: often around 1.5 to 2 m (and more) depending on training and conditions. Some indications give ~1.5 m at around 10 years, others a little more; in the ground it can develop into a small tree of 2–3 m (variable).

Exposure

Bright partial shade or gentle sun. Good light highlights the foliage structure and autumn colours, but protection from scorching sun and drying winds improves leaf quality, especially in containers.

Origin & history

Several sources indicate an old Japanese cultivar, sometimes stated as present before 1882. The name is generally interpreted as “confused lion” or “mad lion”.