Acer, Coral Bark Japanese Maple 'Sango kaku'
Acer palmatum
Family: | Sapindaceae (sap-in-DAY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Acer (AY-ser) (Info) |
Species: | palmatum (pahl-MAY-tum) (Info) |
Cultivar: | Sango kaku |
Additional cultivar information: | (aka Senkaki, Sango-kaku) |

Category:
Shrubs
Trees
Group:
Palmatum (deeply divided leaves)
Height:
12-15 ft. (3.6-4.7 m)
15-20 ft. (4.7-6 m)
Spacing:
12-15 ft. (3.6-4.7 m)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F)
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Deciduous
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From woody stem cuttings
From softwood cuttings
From semi-hardwood cuttings
From hardwood cuttings
By grafting
By budding
Seed Collecting:
N/A: plant does not set seed, flowers are sterile, or plants will not come true from seed
Foliage Color:
Bloom Characteristics:
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Where to Grow:
Grow outdoors year-round in hardiness zone
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Mentone, Alabama
Springville, Alabama
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Benton, Arkansas
Conway, Arkansas
Bakersfield, California
Chico, California
El Cerrito, California
GARBERVILLE, California
Newcastle, California
Oakland, California(2 reports)
Oakley, California
San Leandro, California
Santa Rosa, California
Stockton, California
Calhoun, Georgia
Cumming, Georgia
Smyrna, Georgia
Chicago, Illinois
Indianapolis, Indiana
Georgetown, Kentucky
Latonia, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky(2 reports)
Lafayette, Louisiana
Millersville, Maryland
Lynn, Massachusetts
Pepperell, Massachusetts
Plymouth, Massachusetts
Roslindale, Massachusetts
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Novi, Michigan
Marion, Mississippi
Tupelo, Mississippi
Madison, Missouri
Reno, Nevada
Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey
Ringwood, New Jersey
Rumson, New Jersey
Toms River, New Jersey
Manorville, New York
Rochester, New York
Woodstock, New York
Charlotte, North Carolina(2 reports)
Columbus, North Carolina
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Hendersonville, North Carolina
Matthews, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina(2 reports)
Euclid, Ohio
Gates Mills, Ohio
Mansfield, Ohio
Bixby, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Beaverton, Oregon(12 reports)
Monmouth, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Media, Pennsylvania
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Columbia, South Carolina
Florence, South Carolina
Inman, South Carolina
Lexington, South Carolina
Walhalla, South Carolina
Arlington, Tennessee
Morrison, Tennessee
Smyrna, Tennessee
Dallas, Texas(2 reports)
Rockwall, Texas
Santaquin, Utah
Hot Springs, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Newport News, Virginia
Newsoms, Virginia
Anacortes, Washington
Battle Ground, Washington
Bellevue, Washington
Black Diamond, Washington
Cherry Grove, Washington
Concrete, Washington(2 reports)
Dollar Corner, Washington
Edmonds, Washington
La Conner, Washington
Lacey, Washington
Langley, Washington
Lewisville, Washington
Meadow Glade, Washington
Puyallup, Washington(2 reports)
Renton, Washington
Seattle, Washington(3 reports)
Venersborg, Washington
Green Bay, Wisconsin
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Jun 28, 2015, Danif from Lynn, MA wrote: I have had my Sango for about 4 years (z 6) and it's about 3.5 feet tall. I got it as a seedling. I love it. It has year round interest due to the red bark. I have been growing it in a container and would love yo transplant it into the ground. Any suggestions on how to do this. .. to encourage growth? Certain soil? Pruning? |
Positive | 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! |
Positive | On Jan 3, 2015, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: A beautiful small vase-shaped tree that does well here in Boston Z6a. The young bark colors up vividly only in winter and early spring. |
Negative | 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 |
Positive | On May 19, 2014, elsutor from Penn Hills, PA wrote: A really beautiful tree. Mine is planted in an Eastern exposure and receives direct sun until shortly after lunch. |
Neutral | 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!! |
Positive | On Jun 30, 2011, RayFromPA from Fleetwood, PA wrote: @ Oaklandguy, I bought a Sango Kaku in a 3 gallon container and it was a beautiful deep red with gorgeous green leaves. Sounds like he was trying to unload some bad trees. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Apr 10, 2011, MeganAmber from Conway, AR wrote: I am very happy with my Coral Bark Japanese Maple. It is growing very well. This is my second year having it and I love it! |
Positive | On Jan 28, 2011, NWSeattleite from Seattle, 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). |
Positive | On Nov 15, 2010, Pdewhitt from San Jose, CA wrote: I just saw a whole lot of these growing in the Getty Museum Gardens in Los Angeles. They were bare of leaves, shrubby vase-shaped and spectacularly colored - red, orange and yellow. The garden is in full sun, but is on a mountaintop and gets ocean breezes, so that probably moderates the heat. I'd like to try them in San Jose. Any input? |
Positive | 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. |
Negative | On Aug 30, 2010, Dodgeum from Waxahachie, TX wrote: I bought this plant from a nursery and they planted the first |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Jan 1, 2010, urbantransplant from Marshall, VA wrote: This tree has done well since I planted it in full sun but mostly dry soil. It had grown to about 4 1/2 ft tall when a bear passing through my yard (looking for my birdfeeders) he broke it clean off at the base. I saw the tree laying there in the morning and the next day it was completely gone despite a search of my property. Was there something about this particular tree that attracted the bear? I'd like to replace it. |
Positive | 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. |
Negative | On Sep 24, 2009, turnesu from Bixby, OK wrote: I live in Oklahoma. I planted a coral bark Japanese maple last fall. It was beautiful. It never lost its leaves. This spring its golden leaves were still on it. This summer the leaves started to turn brown and curl up. the existing branches with leaves never grew. The new growth is looking like weeds. I read an article that talked about a disease caused by the bacterium Xylella Fastidiosa, which clogs the plant's water-conducting tissues. It is spread by spittlebugs, leafhoppers and treehoppers. The article said there was no cure for it. I do not want to just chop it down. Please help. |
Positive | 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 more |
Positive | On Jun 5, 2009, turektaylor from Elizabeth City, NC (Zone 8a) wrote: here in NE NC, mine is only if full sun in the AM, then dappled shade the rest of the day. very acid-y soil from the pines and large maples overhead. i too, trim unruly branches on top and continue to remove all lower branches to 4'. it creates the nice shaped 'canopy top' that makes them so appealing. |
Negative | 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? |
Negative | On Jan 11, 2009, catcollins from West Friendship, MD (Zone 6b) wrote: This is a really beautiful tree, but the jury is out on whether it is good for this area. We had two. One died in its second year for no apparent reason despite being in a sheltered position with full sun until 2pm. I suspect that it caught some type of blight - died from the bottom up. The other has been doing okay for 3 years now. Some winter dieback but this one is fully exposed to winter winds, full sun. It does tend to shoot out in strange directions and needs to be trimmed to shape. Beautiful bright foliage, excellent winter bark. Other types seem to be much more reliable and just as pretty. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Mar 21, 2008, oscarkat01 from Rochester, NY (Zone 6a) wrote: I have had great luck with this plant. I have one in a partial shade location. The other is in full sun with a western exposure. There is a tiny bit of tip die back in the winter here. I never get leaf scorch even in full sun. |
Negative | 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 |
Neutral | On Apr 15, 2007, jollie_hanna from Monmouth, OR (Zone 8a) wrote: My mother has owned 2 of these in Willamina. The tree does really well until the deer find it. :( They have been absolutely beautiful in the winter with their bright colored bark. |
Positive | 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. |
Positive | On Mar 1, 2004, amur wrote: I have planted my Sango Kaku about 10 years ago, it is about 10 feet tall and looks great. |
Positive | On Sep 29, 2003, twilli346 wrote: It grows in acid or alkaline soils but colors better on acid soil. |
Positive | On Sep 11, 2003, sgmdoc from Tuscaloosa, AL wrote: I purchased my Coral Bark from a Japanese nursery in Washington then flew back to Tuscaloosa, Alabama (U.S.) with it and six other plants. It has been growing in Tuscaloosa since 1995. Today as I was having some pine trees removed they dropped a 40 year old pine on my Coral Bark. |
Positive | 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'. |