{"product_id":"acer-palmatum-sango-kaku","title":"Acer palmatum 'Sango-Kaku'","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCoral Bark Japanese Maple — Sango-Kaku\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eAcer palmatum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Sango-Kaku'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sapindaceae\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Japan, Korea, China\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deciduous ornamental tree; upright vase-shaped form\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAcer palmatum 'Sango-Kaku' — whose name translates to 'coral tower' — is one of the world's most celebrated ornamental trees, treasured for delivering genuine four-season spectacle in a single planting. It earns its keep from the moment its coral-red stems ignite against a winter sky, through the soft lime-green of spring emergence, to the golden-yellow autumn blaze that precedes leaf fall and reveals the glowing bark once more. For Adelaide Hills gardens, cool courtyards, and sheltered city spaces where winters are cold enough to intensify that legendary scarlet bark, 'Sango-Kaku' is simply without equal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4–7 m H × 3–4 m W\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate; 30–45 cm per year once established; upright and vase-shaped with a tidy, ascending branching structure that naturally fills without requiring heavy formative pruning\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Delicate five-to-seven-lobed palmate leaves; emerging pinky-yellow-green in early spring, transitioning to fresh lime-green through summer, then turning brilliant golden-yellow with orange-red tints in autumn (May–June in southern Australia) before dropping to reveal the coral bark display\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small clusters of reddish-purple flowers; spring (August–September); non-fragrant; modest in size but supply early pollen for beneficial insects before new foliage fully emerges\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeasonal Interest:\u003c\/strong\u003e Arguably the finest four-season tree available — coral-scarlet bare stems in winter; fresh lime-green canopy in spring; airy green shade in summer; golden autumn fire before leaf drop\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife Value:\u003c\/strong\u003e Spring flowers attract bees and beneficial insects; seeds (winged samaras, late summer–autumn) occasionally taken by small birds; canopy provides nesting shelter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Frost hardy (tolerates heavy and frequent frost once established); moderate drought tolerance when established with deep occasional watering; NOT coastal-tolerant (salt wind and hot dry winds cause leaf scorch); NOT suited to exposed, wind-swept positions; benefits from shelter from harsh afternoon sun and north\/west winds in SA summers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting Density:\u003c\/strong\u003e Feature specimen: plant one tree allowing 3–4 m clearance from structures and neighbouring plants to accommodate full canopy spread. Avenue\/group planting: space 3 m apart centre-to-centre for a continuous soft-textured corridor. Container specimen: plant into a minimum 100–200 L pot for long-term success on a sheltered patio or courtyard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePet Friendly:\u003c\/strong\u003e Acer palmatum is not listed as toxic to cats or dogs by the ASPCA or major veterinary poison databases. However, as with any garden plant, prevent pets from chewing bark or ingesting large quantities of foliage. No known severe toxicity, but always supervise pets in the garden.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere It Works Best\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunlight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun to part shade; in SA's warmer plains and coastal suburbs, afternoon shade (from 1 pm onward) is strongly recommended to prevent leaf scorch — morning sun with dappled afternoon light is the ideal position; in the Adelaide Hills and cooler elevated sites, full sun is well tolerated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Well-drained loam or sandy loam enriched with quality compost and aged organic matter; avoid poorly drained or heavy clay sites unless substantially improved with gypsum and organic matter; mulch thickly (75–100 mm) to keep the root zone cool and moist\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater Needs:\u003c\/strong\u003e Establishment (first 2–3 years): water deeply 2–3 times per week in warm weather, reducing to weekly in cooler months, ensuring the root zone never fully dries out. Established: summer — deep soaking once weekly, increasing to twice weekly during extended heatwaves above 35°C; winter — rainfall typically sufficient, water only during dry spells. Avoid waterlogged conditions at all times.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaintenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Low to moderate; prune lightly in late winter (July–August) to remove crossing branches and improve airflow — avoid heavy pruning or cutting into old wood; apply a complete slow-release fertiliser in early spring; replenish mulch annually; protect from hot dry winds with temporary hessian screening in the establishment phase\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan:\u003c\/strong\u003e Several decades with correct siting; long-lived ornamental tree that increases in character and beauty year by year\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClimate Zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e Best suited to the Adelaide Hills, Mount Lofty Ranges, and elevated temperate suburbs where cold winters intensify the coral bark colour; performs well in sheltered, part-shaded positions in Adelaide's inner suburbs and coastal fringe; NOT recommended for exposed coastal positions, the hot inland Murray Mallee, or open plains sites with unbroken hot northerly winds — in these areas, a sheltered microclimate or generous afternoon shade is essential\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil pH:\u003c\/strong\u003e Slightly acid to neutral (pH 5.5–7.0); avoid alkaline or heavily limed soils which cause chlorosis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLandscape \u0026amp; Design Ideas\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignature specimen tree:\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant as a standalone feature in a lawn, courtyard, or garden bed where the full vase-shaped silhouette and four-season colour sequence can be appreciated from indoors and out — position where winter sunlight can backlight the glowing coral stems for maximum drama\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eJapanese or cool-climate garden:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pair with bamboo, moss groundcovers, stone lanterns, ornamental grasses, and liriope to create a serene Japanese-inspired garden room in a sheltered Adelaide Hills or Stirling-area courtyard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAvenue or driveway planting:\u003c\/strong\u003e Planted 3 m apart, a double row of 'Sango-Kaku' creates a stunning seasonal processional — spectacular in golden autumn colour and unforgettable as bare coral stems in the depths of winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy You Will Love It\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo other tree in the garden centre offers 365 days of visual theatre like 'Sango-Kaku'. It is the tree that garden visitors ask about every single season — not just in autumn, but in the depths of winter when those incandescent coral stems glow against a grey sky, in spring when soft lime-green hands of foliage unfurl, and in summer when the airy canopy brings dappled coolness to a sheltered sitting area. Correctly sited in a sheltered Adelaide Hills garden, a cool courtyard, or a protected inner-suburban bed, this is the one tree that pays you back every single day of the year — a true heirloom specimen you will never regret planting.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Adelaide Plant Co","offers":[{"title":"250mm Pot","offer_id":50968616173820,"sku":"ACER-PALM-SANG-KAKU-250MMPOT","price":74.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/9282\/0220\/files\/acer-palmatum-sango-kaku-coral-bark-japanese-maple-250mm-pot-adelaide-plant-co.jpg?v=1787311615","url":"https:\/\/adelaideplantco.com.au\/products\/acer-palmatum-sango-kaku","provider":"Adelaide Plant Co","version":"1.0","type":"link"}