Coral Bark Maple

Coral Bark Maple (Acer palmatum 'Sango kaku', sold as Senkaki) is the Japanese maple that earns its place in winter. Reaching about 5m tall and 3m wide over many years, it drops its leaves to reveal young stems the colour of coral, brightest on the newest wood and strongest in cold weather. The leaves turn clear gold before they go, giving the tree two distinct seasons rather than one.

Why you'll love it

• Winter is its best season. Bare coral red stems carry the garden through the months when most deciduous trees have nothing to offer.
• Golden autumn colour. The fine palmate leaves turn a soft clear yellow rather than muddy brown.
• Upright and well mannered. At roughly 5m by 3m it suits a small garden or a courtyard, and the branching stays open enough to plant beneath.
• Slow and undemanding. It grows quietly and needs almost no pruning, which is why it works in a pot or a tight bed.

Where it works best

Feature planting. Set it where winter light catches the stems, against a dark hedge or a plain wall that shows the coral colour rather than competing with it.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A pot 500mm or wider holds it for years and keeps it nearer 2.5m to 3m. Container plants dry out fast, so this is a commitment to summer watering.

Small gardens. Its modest width lets it sit close to a path or seating area without taking over.

Growing Coral Bark Maple in Australia

Position and climate. This is a cool temperate and warm temperate tree. It is frost hardy, and cold winters deepen the bark colour. Give it morning sun with shelter from hot afternoon sun and drying wind, both of which scorch the leaf margins. It is not a plant for subtropical or tropical gardens.

Soil. Moist, humus rich and well drained, slightly on the acid side. Dig compost through a wide planting hole and mulch 75mm deep, clear of the trunk. It will not accept waterlogging.

Water and feed. Keep the root zone evenly moist through the first two summers and never let a young tree dry right out. A light application of slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough.

Pruning. Very little. Remove crossing or damaged wood in mid winter while the tree is bare, and leave the young stems alone, since those carry the colour.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown right across the range, from 250mm packs of three and single 300mm plants through 400mm and 500mm pots, and on to advanced 45L, 100L and 200L specimens. The smaller pots are young trees, little more than a slender whip with a few side branches, and take four or five years to look like a tree. From 45L up you are buying real height and a formed canopy on day one.

If it arrives bare in winter that is normal, not a fault. Plants are delivered Australia wide with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery, and advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The Japanese maple care guide for Australian gardens
• Browse plants grown for autumn colour
• Compare the deciduous tree range
• Designing a Japanese inspired garden

Common questions

How red does the bark actually get?

Strongest on one and two year old stems, and strongest in a cold winter. Older trunks fade to grey brown, which is why light winter pruning of the oldest wood keeps the display coming.

Can I grow it in a pot long term?

Yes, and it is one of the better maples for it. Use a pot at least 500mm wide, root prune every three or four years, and expect it to settle around 2.5m to 3m rather than 5m.

Why are the leaf edges going brown in summer?

Almost always heat, dry wind or a dry root zone rather than disease. Move a potted tree into afternoon shade, deepen the mulch and water more consistently through hot spells.