Plant types

Plant styles

Planting conditions

Seasonal interest

Nurseries & Gardens

Photo by plant lust

Show all photos

Buy Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku'

Also Known As

Acer palmatum 'Sango Kak'
Coral Bark Japanese Maple
Coral Bark Maple
Sango Kak Japanese Maple

Plant type

tree

size

H: 20'-25'
W: 15'-20'

planting zones

6a-9b

1 gallon | $42.8

Avail in US except West Coast, HI/AK

Fewer than 4 at Maples N More Nursery

#1 Container | $44.99

Buy button links to nursery site for checkout

Fewer than 20 at Conifer Kingdom

More Options

Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku' plant details

Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku' is a moderate-growing broadleaf deciduous tree with green foliage. Attracts beneficial insects and birds. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and even moisture - regular water. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something humidity tolerant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku'

Plant type: tree
Plant family: sapindaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 15 FT - 20 FT - wide, 20 FT - 25 FT - tall
Uses: bonsai, distinctive bark, fall color, small tree, winter interest, year round interest

GROWING CONDITIONS for Acer palmatum 'Sango Kaku'

USDA Zones: 6a - 9b
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
Resistant to: humidity
Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained

We independently publish plant data to search multiple nurseries at once. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases when you buy through our links.

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Highly regarded for its outstanding, almost fluorescent coral bark, this upright, spreading Japanese maple produces a fabulous show all four seasons. Red margins decorate the yellow-green spring leaves that gradually change to bright green in summer. Yell

By: Conifer Kingdom

In addition to its bright coral-red bark, this strong upright spreading tree has foliage which changes from light-green to a brilliant long-lasting gold in fall. S-PSh/M

By: Forestfarm

Sango Kaku Japanese Maple is a coral bark maple with a classic vase shape. The deeply cut bright green leaves with red margins turn to gold, orange and red in fall. The coral bark creates winter interest. The best leaf and bark coloration occur when Sango Kaku is grown in full sun. Fabulous year round color!

By: Maples N More Nursery

A very attractive red-stem Japanese Maple that displays light green leaves against blood-red twigs. This variety is naturally upright and grows up to 25 feet tall and about 8 feet wide when left un-pruned. The leaves turn bright orange in the fall and after they drop the bright red stems add intense red color to the winter landscape.

Also common known by the Japanese Name Senkaki.

Care and Receiving Your Tree

Like with other plants that are shipped bare root, you should plant your tree as soon as possible. When planting be sure to spread the roots out a little so they are not clumped together at the bottom of the hole. Japanese Maples want the top of their root crown to be covered with just an inch of soil - be careful not to apply heavy mulch directly on top of the roots as this can suffocate them. Water heavily as soon as you plant your tree but after that be careful not to over-water this beautiful specimen - Japanese Maples prefer long but less frequent watering. During the growing season we water our established trees for two hours once per week, depending on the climate and how hot/dry the weather is (maybe a little more frequently during the hottest part of the year and less frequently during spring and fall when it is cooler). If you are growing your Japanese Maples in containers be sure to use a well-drained soil mix (not peat or compost based, bark based soils do best) and water whenever the soil starts to dry out.

Japanese Maples do best when fertilized in the spring, we recommend a slow release pellet like Osmocote Plus in April. Don't apply fertilizer later than mid-June because it will encourage too much late season growth that will not have time to harden off enough for winter. The exact formula doesn't matter too much, we usually use 15-10-10 but any other works fine for Japanese Maples. Osmocote is the brand we use because it releases steadily for several months and so there is very little risk of over-fertilizing your plants.

By: Red Panda Nursery

Brilliant coral bark is the outstanding feature of this well-known cultivar. Striking red-edged green spring leaves, brilliant apricot-gold in fall with a touch of red. Young wood exhibits strongest color. Photo taken in late October.

By: Bloom River Gardens

Beautiful small to medium tree has brilliant coral bark on young branches; color intensifies in winter. Deeply cut light green leaves display attractive red margins. Leaves may turn golden in fall, as well as orange and red. Growth Rate medium

By: Garden World

The claim to fame of this beautiful Japanese maple is its winter bark which gradually darkens with the onset of cold weather to coral red and salmon. However, 'Sango Kaku' has other lovely features. It offers a classic arching vase shape with leaves emerging lime green then developing canary-yellow hues in summer followed by golden yellow leaves in fall with red highlights. The best bark and leaf colouration occurs when plants are grown in full sun.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

Also known as Coral Bark Maple, this one, of course, is famous for its coral winter bark color. It should also be noted that Sangu Kaku puts on a Fall display that rivals any other maple. Incredible shades of bright yellow and orange. This variety is also perfect for bonsai or container gardening. It prefers a partly shady location.

By: Maplestone Ornamentals

Acer palmatum 'Sango kaku' - This is the ever so popular variety of Coral Bark Japanese Maple For Sale. Sango kaku has beautiful contrasting colors for all seasons. Leaves turn clear yellow in fall; cold weather turns the bark and branches bright red. New leaves are a bright clear green with red margins.

By: Kigi Nursery

A small vase-shaped tree, the wintertime red and pink bark on young branches is the real feature to extol. As with most coral-bark maples, in cool moist areas, the Coral Bark suffers from diseases if it is fertilized too heavily in the nursery.

By: Heritage Seedlings

Coral Bark Japanese Maple - Palmatum Group -green ? A personal favorite and deserving of much wider use. Has year round appeal - highlighted in winter when stems and branches turn fluorescent coral in color. Leaves are pale green and contrast well with other green trees, but may scald in full sun. Grows 10? in ten years. Usually matures around 20? tall but can grow 25-30? tall in very old age. Japanese name means ?coral tower?. Awards: Award of Merit & Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Recommended by: the United States National Arboretum.

By: Fantastic Plants

Beautiful glowing red winter bark on the bare stems makes this Dwarf Japanese Maple a stand out in the winter landscape. The spring foliage emerges bright chartreuse green and matures to a light green for summer. Reported to have good fall color in Northern climates.

By: Almost Eden

Sango Kaku Japanese Maple aka Coral Bark Maple is known for its striking red bark in the fall and winter. The leaves are mostly green with reddish and pinkish tinges when unfolding, becoming medium green in summer. Sango Kaku is a very attractive small to medium size tree.

By: Oregon Grown Tree Farm

Chartreuse leaves contrast with bright red bark, leaves are yellow gold in fall. USDA zones 6-9.

By: Lael's Moon Garden

I have three coral-bark cultivars that I can't really tell apart: Sango kaku, Beni kawa, Red wood. Each has the startling red bark you see in the photo in the winter WHILE THE TREE IS YOUNG. Once the tree matures, the only coral bark is on the new growth which can be mighty little. However the yellow green foliage in the summer and the pink/orange in the fall and the general gracefulness of the tree (25' sometimes) is not to be sneezed at. However, do not plant this cultivar in a landscape where it gets watered at night. That is actually a pretty good rule of thumb for any Japanese Maple. zone5

By: Whitman Farms

PALMATUM, green. The winter twigs have sensational coral tones putting on a superb display during those dreary winter months. Small foliage is an appealing light green during spring and summer changing to bright yellows in the fall. A must!

By: Greer Gardens Inc.

Bright red twigs provide wonderful winter color as well a great contrast for the the light green spring foliage and the yellow colors of autumn. To 10' high and wide, the large shrubs or small trees enjoy full sun to part shade with summer water. Frost hardy in USDA zone 5.

By: Cistus Nursery

The Coral Bark Maple is a plant we always get calls for. This stunning upright Japenese maple will have brilliant coral-red stems fall--spring. Green foliage turns yellow in fall.