Acer palmatum
Native to Japan, Korea, and China, Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum) include a rich variety of deciduous shrubs or small trees with graceful habits, elegantly cut leaves, and extraordinarily colorful foliage, particularly in spring or fall when the leaves warm up to dazzling shades of golden-yellow, red-purple, and bronze, before shedding to the ground. As they fall, they expose the bright, coral-red bark on young twigs and branches of some Japanese Maple cultivars, adding a much-needed splash of color to the winter landscape.
One of the most popular varieties of coral bark Japanese maple is Acer palmatum ‘Sango-Kaku’, commonly known as the Coral Bark Maple or ‘Senkaki’. The young branches of this cultivar glow with a bright coral-red color, particularly in winter when the leaves have fallen. As the tree ages, the bark color can fade to a light coral-pink or coral-brown.
‘Sango-Kaku’ has palmate leaves that are light green in the spring and summer and turn golden-yellow with hints of red in the fall. This variety grows up to 20-25 feet tall, making it a great specimen tree for small to medium-sized gardens.
Another variety is Acer palmatum ‘Beni-Kawa’. Slightly smaller than ‘Sango-Kaku’, ‘Beni-Kawa’ grows to about 15 feet tall. The bark of ‘Beni-Kawa’ is a softer shade of salmon-red, and its leaves turn a vibrant orange-red in the fall.
Here is a list of Japanese maples that will help you create beautiful winter scenes and let you enjoy the winter season in a beautiful new way.
Hardiness |
5 - 9 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
2 - 8 |
Climate Zones | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Shrubs, Trees |
Genus | Acer |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Tolerance | Rabbit |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, Traditional Garden |
© Martin Ogden and www.teddingtongardener.com
Hardiness |
5 - 9 |
---|---|
Heat Zones |
2 - 8 |
Climate Zones | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
Plant Type | Shrubs, Trees |
Genus | Acer |
Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
Season of Interest | Spring (Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall, Winter |
Maintenance | Low |
Water Needs | Average |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy |
Tolerance | Rabbit |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, Traditional Garden |
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Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
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