Palmatum Group
Dwarf
'Chiba'
a wonderful plant for bonsai, forms a nice small shrub slightly taller than
wide. In sun, new growth appears green with rusty red margins which soon
fade to solid green. In
more shade where this plant prefers to be in hot climates the red margins do
not show up.
The center lobe on the small leaf is much longer than the others. Fall color is yellow to orange.
Some consider 'Chiba'
and 'Kashima' to be synonymous, and although very similar Kashima seems
to be a slightly more aggressive grower putting out new growth much longer into
the summer.