What hardiness zones is Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku' suitable for?

Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku' is suitable for USDA hardiness zones 5, 6, 7, 8.

What are the sun requirements for Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku'?

Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku' requires Part Sun.

How much water does Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku' need?

Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku' has Medium water needs.

Trees

Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku'

Coral Bark Japanese Maple

Sapindaceae

Garden selection of Japanese origin; species native to Japan, Korea, eastern China, and Taiwan

At a Glance

TypeTree

HabitUpright

FoliageDeciduous

Height120-240 inches (300-600 cm)

Width120-180 inches (300-450 cm)

Maturity25 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

5 - 8

Zone 5 Zone 6 Zone 7 Zone 8

These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.

What's my zone? →

Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators Container Friendly

Maintenancelow

Overview

Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku' is a coral-bark Japanese maple, an upright vase-shaped tree reaching 120-240 inches (300-600 cm) tall and 120-180 inches (300-450 cm) wide at 25-30 years. The cultivar name translates from Japanese as 'coral tower'. Young 1-3 year old stems and branches are vivid coral-red year-round, with the color most pronounced in winter on bare branches against neutral or dark backgrounds; older bark fades to dull gray-brown after 4-5 years. Palmate leaves with 5-7 lobes are 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, light green to chartreuse in spring and summer, turning golden-yellow with apricot edges in October-November. Inconspicuous reddish flower clusters open in April before full leaf emergence, followed by paired samaras (winged seeds). Removing some 3+ year old branches in late fall encourages new coral-stem production. Susceptible to verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae), which causes branch dieback and can kill the tree over 2-5 years. Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) skeletonize leaves in July in the eastern United States. Afternoon sun in zones 7+ scorches leaf margins; morning sun with afternoon shade reduces scorch and maintains foliage color. Pruning is done in late fall or early winter—maples bleed sap profusely if cut in late winter or spring. Non-toxic. Hardy in USDA zones 5-8.

Native Range

The species A. palmatum is native to forest understory and edges in Japan, Korea, eastern China, and Taiwan, at elevations from 200-3,300 feet (60-1,000 m). 'Sango-kaku' is a Japanese horticultural selection in cultivation since the late 19th century.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a specimen tree in residential gardens, courtyard plantings, and Japanese-style gardens, sited where the winter coral-red bark is visible against neutral or dark backgrounds. Spacing of 96-180 inches (240-450 cm) from adjacent plants and structures matches the mature canopy spread. Container culture in 15-25 gallon (57-95 liter) pots is reliable for 5-10 years before the tree outgrows the pot. Suited to woodland-edge and understory positions in zones 5-8.

How to Identify

Identified by coral-red young stems and branches (most visible in winter), upright vase-shaped form, and 5-7 lobed palmate leaves 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long that emerge light green to chartreuse and turn golden-yellow with apricot edges in fall. Coral-bark stem color separates it from other commonly cultivated A. palmatum cultivars; a similar cultivar is 'Beni-kawa', which has slightly redder bark and shorter stature. Older trunk bark turns gray-brown.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height10' - 20'

Width/Spread10' - 15'

Reaches mature size in approximately 25 years

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~2 weeks

Spring

Reddish-purple flower clusters 0.25 inch (6 mm) open in April before full leaf expansion, lasting 2-3 weeks. Flowers are wind- and small-bee-pollinated. Paired samaras (winged seeds) ripen by August and disperse on autumn winds.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Reddish-purple, inconspicuous

Foliage Description

Light green to chartreuse spring/summer; golden-yellow with apricot edges in fall

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun Partial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 6.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

10-15 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Morning sun with afternoon shade in zones 7+ reduces leaf scorch on margins; full sun is tolerated in zones 5-6. Slightly acidic moist well-drained soil with pH 5.5-6.5 supports root health; alkaline or compacted soils cause weak growth and chlorosis. Established trees tolerate brief dry periods after 2-3 years of regular watering, but extended drought causes leaf scorch and twig dieback. Verticillium wilt enters through root wounds and causes one-sided branch death, sometimes killing the tree over 2-5 years; resistance is unknown for this cultivar. Japanese beetles skeletonize foliage in July in eastern U.S. populations. Hardy in USDA zones 5-8.

Pruning

Pruning is timed to late fall or early winter after leaf drop and before sap flow resumes; cuts in late winter and spring bleed sap profusely and stress the tree. Removing some 3+ year old branches each year encourages new coral-colored shoot production; the coral pigment is concentrated in 1-3 year old stems and fades on older wood. Crossing and rubbing branches are removed to maintain air circulation and reduce fungal infection. Major structural pruning is limited to 10-15% of the canopy per year on established trees.

Pruning Schedule

fallwinter