Acer Palmatum Sango Kaku – Learn, Buy & Grow
Acer palmatum Sango Kaku also called coral-bark Japanese maple tree is a deciduous, small-medium sized, slow-growing cultivar of the Acer palmatum genus. This unique cultivar is popular for its coral-coloured bark and stem, and its showy foliage colour in autumn.
Acer palmatum Sango Kaku – Stunning Year Round ColourAlso, it is a highly desirable tree to add to any landscape because it offers more than just its foliage beauty but also creates a great background after the leaves fall off in autumn.
The coral-bark Japanese maple tree is a low maintenance plant that is relatively easy to grow once it is planted in the right conditions. It can be grown through grafting or softwood cuttings.
Acer palmatum Sango Kaku – Coral Bark Maple
How To Grow And Care For Acer Palmatum Sango Kaku
If you want to grow the Acer palmatum Sango Kaku, start by weeding the planting site from other grasses that may interfere with its growth then proceed to dig a square hole as deep and twice as wide as the root mass to be planted. Next, cover up with 50/50 compost and soil and finish up by watering thoroughly.

Acer palmatum Sango Kaku – Coral Bark Maple – Large 6-8ft Tree
How tall does Acer Palmatum Sango Kaku grow?
It is a large to medium-sized tree that grows 20-25 feet in height and 15-20 feet in diameter. It takes about 15-20 years to reach its ultimate height. READ: What should I underplant Acers with?
Growing Conditions required for Acer Palmatum Sango Kaku
Soil: The ideal soil type is moist, well-drained, organically rich soil that is slightly acidic such as chalk, loamy or sandy.
Light: It can tolerate full sun, but partial sun or dappled sunlight is ideal to achieve the best foliage colour.

Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’
Water: Average water needs. Although it needs a regular water regime in its early years and hot and dry weather seasons. Rainwater is also a good supply of the acidic content it needs to foster healthy foliage.
Pruning: Pruning is not required but if it must be done, it should be done in its dormant seasons rather than in spring when the sap is running.
Best growing position for Acer Sango Kaku
The best position is west-facing, east-facing, or south-facing where it can be slightly sheltered from exposure to sunlight.
What colour is Acer Palmatum Sango Kaku?
The leaves emerge in spring with pink-yellow colour and mature to a lush light-green in summer, before turning to a soft-yellow in autumn just before it falls. The leaves fall to expose a light coral pink on the bark of young stems that adds a splash of colour to the winter landscape.
Further Reading
We have lots of other helpful content for Acers, such as common questions we have been asked such as:
- What should I plant with an acer?
- How is best to repot an acer tree?
- Do Acers prefer acid soil?
- Do Acers prefer ericaceous compost?
- When is best to prune Acer trees in the UK?
- How to take cuttings from acer trees?
- Do Acers lose their leaves?
- Acer leaf browning and diseases,
Other Acer’s you might be interested in
Acer Brilliantissimum, Acer Feeds, Acer Jerre Schwartz, Acer Altropurprueum, Acer beni maiko, Acer Bi Hoo, Acer Bloodgood, Acer bonsai, Acer Butterfly, Acer Deshojo, Acer dissectum, Acer dissectum Firecracker, Acer emerald lace, Acer fireglow, Acer garnet, Acer katsura, Acer little princess, Acer orange dream, Acer Osakazuki, Acer Phoenix, Acer Sango kaku, Acer Seiryu, Acer Shaina, Acer Shindehojo, Acer Skeeters Broom, Acer Taylor, Acer Trompenburg, Acer Ukigumo.