Description
Looking for a Japanese maple with real character? Acer ‘Sangokaku’ is a great choice. Sangokaku, the coral bark maple, is valued for its vivid coral-pink to red young stems, which are at their brightest in winter. Its leaves open lime-green, mature to green and turn golden yellow in autumn, so it offers colour in every season.
Japanese maples are prized for their elegant shape and their foliage, which changes through the year from fresh spring shades to vivid autumn colour. Most stay compact and grow slowly, making them some of the best small trees for patios, courtyards and smaller gardens.
Key features of Acer ‘Sangokaku’
- Plant type: Deciduous ornamental tree or large shrub
- Season of interest: Spring foliage and autumn colour
- Look: Coral-red winter stems and lime-green leaves turning gold in autumn
- Height and spread: 4m x 3m (slow-growing)
- Position: Dappled shade or morning sun, sheltered from cold drying winds
- Soil: Moist but free-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil
- Hardiness: Fully hardy, though the new spring growth can be damaged by late frosts and cold winds
- Supplied in: 3L pot
- Best for: patio pots, Japanese-style and woodland gardens, specimen planting, Japanese-style gardens
Why choose Acer ‘Sangokaku’?
- Vivid coral-red winter stems
- Golden-yellow autumn colour
- Interest all year
Where to plant Acer ‘Sangokaku’
Acer ‘Sangokaku’ grows best in dappled shade or morning sun, sheltered from cold drying winds, in moist but free-draining, slightly acidic to neutral soil. Pick a spot sheltered from strong, cold or drying winds and the hottest afternoon sun, which can scorch the delicate leaves. Add plenty of organic matter and avoid heavy, waterlogged clay. It is a good choice for patio pots, and also works well for Japanese-style and woodland gardens, specimen planting and Japanese-style gardens. Underplant with ferns, hostas, Japanese forest grass and spring bulbs, or set it among dwarf conifers and azaleas for an oriental look.
How to plant Acer ‘Sangokaku’
Before planting, soak the root ball in a bucket of water. Prepare a hole about twice the width of the pot, fork over the bottom and add organic matter. Plant at the original soil level, firm the soil around the roots and give it a generous drink.
How to care for Acer ‘Sangokaku’
Keep the roots evenly moist, especially in the first two summers and for plants in pots. Mulch each spring with leafmould or bark. Feed sparingly with a slow-release fertiliser; overfeeding produces soft, weak growth. Water well in dry spells, mulch each spring and prune only lightly in winter. Container growing suits it well. Japanese maples need very little pruning. If shaping is needed, do it in late autumn or winter when the tree is dormant, removing only dead, crossing or badly placed branches. Leaf scorch from wind, sun or dry roots is the most common issue; aphids can occasionally affect young shoots.
Growing Acer ‘Sangokaku’ in a pot
Ideal for containers: use a loam-based compost with added grit, raise the pot on feet for drainage, and water with rainwater where possible.
Grown in the UK, for UK gardens
Our plants are nursery-grown at St Annes in North West England, raised outdoors and in tunnels in real UK weather rather than a hothouse, so they arrive healthy, acclimatised and well rooted. This Acer ‘Sangokaku’ is supplied in a 3L pot. Container-grown plants can be planted almost all year round, as long as the ground is not frozen or waterlogged; autumn and spring are ideal.
Frequently asked questions
How big does Acer ‘Sangokaku’ grow?
Acer ‘Sangokaku’ typically reaches 4m x 3m (slow-growing), depending on position, soil and pruning.
When does Acer ‘Sangokaku’ look its best?
Its main season of interest is spring foliage and autumn colour, when it shows coral-red winter stems and lime-green leaves turning gold in autumn.
Is Acer ‘Sangokaku’ hardy?
Fully hardy, though the new spring growth can be damaged by late frosts and cold winds.
How do I prune Acer ‘Sangokaku’?
Japanese maples need very little pruning. If shaping is needed, do it in late autumn or winter when the tree is dormant, removing only dead, crossing or badly placed branches.
Can Acer ‘Sangokaku’ grow in a pot?
Yes. Japanese maples are among the best small trees for containers. Use a loam-based compost, water regularly and repot every few years.
Add Acer ‘Sangokaku’ to your basket today and enjoy spring foliage and autumn colour interest in your garden.


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