Shira Red is an extremely rare and durable Japanese maple. Shira Red is one of the first trees to come out in the spring. At that time Shira Red displays its striking red color. As the Sun shines on the tree it is if you can see through the leaf. As the leaves continue you notice a light yellow color toward the center of each leaf. The bright red leaves turn to a warm bronze color by mid-summer. Shira Red is quite possibly a hybrid between Acer palmatum and Acer shirasawanum. Shira Red is very Sun tolerant Japanese maple tree.