Growth Habit & Size
Upright
Small upright threadleaf maple.
PUNGO MAPLES
Virginia Beach Japanese Maple Nursery
Kinshi
Acer palmatum
● In Stock
Cultivar Description & Characteristics
Kinshi, meaning Silk Thread, is a rare dwarf cultivar featuring extremely narrow, linear leaf lobes that create an ultra-fine texture. The spring foliage unfurls in a soft, bright green color that resembles delicate pine needles or bamboo foliage. Through the summer, the dense, upright shrub maintains its unique, wispy appearance before turning golden-yellow in fall. It is a prized specimen for collectors and specialized woodland settings.
10-Yr Height
6.0
10-Yr Width
4.0
Seasonal Foliage Spectrum
Spring: Bright Green
Summer: Green
Fall: Golden-Yellow
Sun Tolerance Ratings
Morning Sun
8 / 10
Afternoon Sun
4 / 10
☀️ Morning Sun Guidance:
Soft, bright green thread-like leaves resemble delicate pine needles in morning rays.
☀️ Afternoon Sun Guidance:
Rare dwarf requires shelter from harsh afternoon sun to prevent tip burn.
Image highlights cultivar traits and is not exact photo of available stock. Image is property of Pungo Maples, unauthorized use prohibited.
Get to know your maple
What do these growth habit terms mean?
More than one term can apply. Branch direction, crown shape and size describe different characteristics, and the outline can change as a tree matures.
- Upright
- Main stems and branches emphasize upward growth. An upright tree can still develop a broad canopy.
- Spreading
- Branches extend outward to form a broad canopy. The tree does not have to be wider than it is tall.
- Weeping
- Branches or branchlets arch or hang downward. The tree can still have an upright trunk.
- Rounded
- The crown has a rounded outline. This describes the overall shape rather than the direction of each branch.
- Dwarf
- A cultivar with a smaller natural stature than typical forms of its species. Dwarf describes size, not branch direction or a fixed height limit; it does not automatically mean slow growth.
For example: Bloodgood can grow upright while developing a broad, rounded canopy with spreading branches.
Learn more: NC State plant forms · Bloodgood profile · RHS trees for smaller gardens
Roots & heritage
The story behind Kinshi
- Cultivar origin
- Japan
'Kinshi' is a Japanese maple cultivar that Frank P Matthews Nursery records as having been raised in Japan before 1984. That statement establishes a reported country of origin and an approximate historical boundary, but it does not identify an exact selection year or document its first commercial introduction. The reviewed sources do not name its selector, hybridizer, parents, or original collection. The Royal Horticultural Society recognizes 'Kinshi' and places it in the Linearilobum Group, characterized by long, narrow leaf lobes. MrMaple interprets its name as referring to golden threads, linking that description to its yellow-orange autumn foliage. Its documented identity is therefore a compact, upright, green threadleaf maple of Japanese origin, with the details of its selection and introduction still unverified.
Explore the sources behind this story
Frank P Matthews Nursery — history states raised in Japan before 1984; does not identify selector or introduction dateRoyal Horticultural Society — accepted cultivar name, Linearilobum Group, upright habit and orange-yellow autumn foliageMrMaple — threadlike green foliage, golden-threads name interpretation and autumn colorationUSPTO Patent Public Search — official portal accessed, but no cultivar-specific registry result verified; patent status remains nullUSPTO Trademark Search — official portal accessed, but no cultivar-associated registration verified; trademark name remains null
📊 Inventory and Pricing
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Pungo Maples Onsite Inventory
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