Coral Bark Japanese Maple 'Sango kaku'

On Nov 16, 2015, Pupjr from Broeck Pointe, KY wrote:

This tree does well in Louisville KY in zone 6. My tree is about 8 feet tall and was transplanted from a 7 gallon container to the ground about 4 years ago. It survived temperatures last winter which were sub minus 10 degrees. A Bihou Japanese Maple growing near it lost about 1/3 of its twigs. The sango kaku lost none. I just planted another one. There is nothing comparable for fall color and winter interest in a compact deciduous tree in this zone.

On Mar 31, 2015, janelp_lee from Toronto, ON (Zone 6a) wrote:

Lovely Japanese maple with different season's looks!! I live in zone 6 Toronto, Ontario and over winter in pot outdoor were just fine. Love its coral red stem in winter and foliage color change in different seasons!

On Sep 1, 2014, dezignlady from Indianapolis, IN wrote:

I live in central Indiana, zone 5b/6. I purchased one of the coral bark maples to replace a tree lost earlier last year. I was very excited about the bark- and fall-interest of the variety. It was growing quite well and seemed to be doing great. But this spring after all the snow had melted and it finally warmed everything above the snow pack had died. Speaking with a JMaple grower from central Ohio this past spring he told me that the coral barks were not solidly hardy anywhere in the midwest and advised me to not put another one back in. He said he had tried to grow them but could never get the to thrive or survive in his nursery. I dug up the remaining plant, good thing we had so much snow last winter, and have it in a pot so that I can move it to a secure protected spot for the winter,... read more it's sort of a dwarf shrub now. Sad they are so stunning.

On Jul 8, 2013, bobbieberecz from Concrete, WA wrote:

My little tree (about 5 ft) has been in my sandy-loam, nutritionally mulched and well-watered soil for 2 years now. It has lovely bark and healthy leaves. Gets morning shade and about 5 hours of warm to hot afternoon sun. My neutral rating is because it hasn't grown one inch in 2 years and neither has my Bloodgood Japanese maple. I understand slow growing but these are the first trees (I've invested in dozens of all varieties of trees) that haven't grown a whit since planting them!!

On Apr 15, 2011, OaklandGuy from Oakland, CA wrote:

Purchased a 15 gal one a couple of years ago. Love it. It really brightens up the yard in winter. Just watch out for leaf burn - protect it from hot, dry wind, and leech excess salt from the soil.

One question. I'm thinking of buying more. When I came across some 5 gal plants with poor color (totally grey in the trunk and barely pink at the new twigs), the grower tried to convince me that they need to grow to 15 gal size before the color intensifies. I think it's B.S. as the young twigs should have the brightest color, but I don't have experience growing one from 5 gal. Comments?

On Jan 28, 2011, NWSeattleite from Seattle,
United States (Zone 8b) wrote:

Planted a small (~4.5 ft tall) one of these 5 years ago in partial shade (afternoon sun only) in recently (and deeply) tilled earth just north of Seattle. It exploded and has more than doubled in size. It has hit its '10 year size' in half the time. Love this tree. The bark is beautiful and the tree is very lush (gets plenty of water).

On Nov 6, 2010, steinbeck from Dallas, TX wrote:

I've had a small (originally 4' tall) Bloodgood Japanese Maple for two years here in Dallas and it has done very well even after a very hard freeze last winter and a very hot summer in the 100's many weeks in the summer. It is on the North of the house in mostly dappled shade during the summer.

On Apr 17, 2010, jeffhaines from Raleigh, NC (Zone 7b) wrote:

We have had good luck with our coral bark in North Carolina. It started out in Winston-Salem, and we moved it with us to Raleigh. It moved well and will soon be in its third year in its new spot. We have good bark color in the winter. We have it planted in a partly shady to shady woodsy area.

On Oct 22, 2009, wha from Pepperell, MA (Zone 6a) wrote:

Sango-kaku gets a bad rap at times. I have two of these trees and both are winners here.

On Sep 7, 2009, dakotadad from Plymouth, MA wrote:

Three years ago the 4 foot Coral Bark Maple caught our eye since everything looks so dead in the winter and the red bark brightened the garden. Here, adjacent to Cape Cod, it is growing magnificantly, sometimes too fast as a vase shaped 8 foot plus shrub with three main trunks and a multitude of arched pendulous branches.We like this tree full and unpruned to shade the A/C. Planted without any stakes in peat moss, cricket manure, loam, sand and super phosphate, with four inches of cedar mulch, in 5 hours of full sun the tree responded well. Winter die back of current season new growth is modest.. Today was the first signs of autumn with the beginning of its yellow leaves. Maples, including this, one require weekly deep watering and I avoid sprinklers which encourage surface rooti... read moreng. Also the last watering is done BEFORE the ground freezes solid. The roots will continue growing during most of the winter and I freeze al my plants wet.

On Apr 25, 2009, blumburg from powell, OH (Zone 5b) wrote:

Planted mine last spring and the leaves scorched a little in full sun in Powell Ohio in the summer despite lots of watering. The coral bark was beautiful all winter. Now there are only a few leaves at the base of the tree and the bark has turned mottled grey brown. I'm guessing it froze, but maybe some disease?

On Oct 27, 2008, maplenut from Lacey, WA wrote:

Sango kaku is a very 'twiggy' vase-shaped upright japanese maple which grows quite tall but in the right place and if you were lucky enough to buy one with an outstanding red bark, can be quite a centerpiece. I personally do not like the 'twiggy' look so I remove a lot of the inner twigs and artistically shape my coral bark the way I want it to look. I also have it in a place where pieces of it hang into view in my diningroom window as you sit and eat. I posted a photo of mine so people could see it the way it can look if you personally also don't like the 'twiggy' look. This one seems to be a fast grower and available everywhere--it is not expensive. Buy an inexpensive junior-sized (not infant) one at your local hardware store that is well shaped and had the most RED to its bark.

On May 2, 2007, Davidsan from Springfield, IL (Zone 6a) wrote:

I know it's a great tree perfect can't go wrong BLA BLA BLA ...My personal experience is it is a piece of JUNK for this area ...maybe in Jm friendly areas but not here ...burns in summer dies back in winter ...DON'T waist your time. I find all the coral bark Jm's hard to grow in northern areas my Japanese sunrise didn't make it either ..but I will say and say it LOUD and CLEAR that the Japanese sunrise is so FAR superior in every respect to the sango it is a no brainner ...I cant recomend it for my area cause of my experience but if you live in a more JM friendly area buy it before that stickin stupid insipid Sango!!! David

On Jan 28, 2007, otis from Morrison, TN wrote:

This cultivar of Japanese maple 'Sango-kaku has very good coloration of the bark through the winter. In my area it has preformed very well. I propagate 'Sango-kaku from softwood cuttings.

On Sep 29, 2003, twilli346 wrote:

It grows in acid or alkaline soils but colors better on acid soil.

On Nov 21, 2002, jkom51 from Oakland, CA (Zone 9b) wrote:

There are newer varieties of Coral Bark Japanese Maples, but this is still one of the best. Often available at a good price in local nurseries, the leaves turn clear yellow in fall; cold weather turns the bark and branches bright red. Color is not quite so vivid on older wood as tree ages, but it remains a striking specimen, particularly when backlit. New leaves are a bright clear green with red margins. This is a vigorous, upright tree. Also known as 'Senkaki'.

Like most Japanese Maples, does need a partial shade location. Our hot dry California summer weather tends to crisp the leaf edges; mine has a late afternoon sun exposure and has suffered some damage.