Coral Bark Japanese Maple Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku'
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser pahl-MAY-tum
- Description
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The Japanese maple is a short tree in the Sapindaceae (maple) family, native to southeast Korea and central and south Japan, and noted for having many aesthetically pleasing forms. Weeping as well as upright varieties exist, and the species is well noted for its beautiful deep red and orange summer color that deepens into the fall.
Acer is Latin for sharp in and palmatum means shaped like a hand referring to the shape of the leaves.
Coral Bark Japanese maple is a slow to moderate growing small to medium-sized woody tree that produces coral red winter bark. Plant it in full sun to modest shade, 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 the fall it will turn bright yellow. The color intensifies in cold weather to almost salmon and though 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 or in a small space, courtyard, patio, or Asian garden. It is occasionally called called ‘Corallinum’.
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:
- Backyard Grouping Lush Foundation Planting
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 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:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- 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
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8b, 8a
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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:
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Rabbits