Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku'
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Acer palmatum 'Corallinum’
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser pahl-MAY-tum
- Description
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'Sango-kaku' coral bark Japanese maple is a deciduous, small to medium-sized tree in the Sapindaceae (soapberry) family, This cultivar is noted for its coral-red bark that is particularly showy in the fall and winter after the leaves drop. Japanese maples are native to southeast Korea and central and south Japan. Acer is Latin for sharp and palmatum means shaped like a hand, referring to the leaves.
Coral bark Japanese maple is a slow- to moderate-growing woody tree. Plant it in full sun to partial shade and in moist, well-drained soil. It tolerates a range of soil types including sand and heavy clay. The foliage will retain a light green-yellow color through spring and summer, and in fall it will turn bright yellow. The color intensifies in cold weather to almost salmon, and although it produces its best color in full sun, new foliage may scorch. This cultivar is drought tolerant.
Plant it in a garden that needs winter interest to really showcase its red bark or plant it in a small space, courtyard, patio, or Asian garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids, scale, maple worms, leafrollers, and leafhoppers are occasional pests. Anthracnose, leaf scorch, and frost damage, especially from late frosts, can occur. It self-seeds easily so can spread and become weedy in the landscape. See potential insect and disease problem fact sheets to the left.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common maple diseases and insect pests.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Dry Stream Bed Garden in Cabarrus County Lush Foundation Planting Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Woods
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- palmatum
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Drought, heavy clay soil, and sand soil
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Insignificant
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Opposite, simple palmatly veined leaves with 7 narrow pointed lobes. They have yellow gold fall color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Bark Description:
- Coral red winter bark: the color intensifies in cold weather to almost salmon. For the best color, plant the tree in full sun.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Patio
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Weedy