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Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku'

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Acer palmatum 'Corallinum’
Phonetic Spelling
AY-ser pahl-MAY-tum
Description

'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.

More information on Acer palmatum.

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:
Tags:
#deciduous#small tree#small spaces#drought tolerant#interesting bark#winter interest#fall interest#courtyard garden#Japanese garden#Asian garden#deciduous tree#fall color yellow#sandy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#fall color orange#weed#patio
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#small tree#small spaces#drought tolerant#interesting bark#winter interest#fall interest#courtyard garden#Japanese garden#Asian garden#deciduous tree#fall color yellow#sandy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#fall color orange#weed#patio
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    High
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Samara
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Insignificant
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • 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