Acer palmatum ‘Sango-Kaku’

We’re often asked about this one. The delicately-textured foliage of Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’ will bring a carousel of colour to your garden all year round. Pastel shades of pink and orange in spring will turn to a fresh rich green in summer, finishing with a flourish of aureolin yellow in autumn. The cultivar name, ‘Sango-Kaku’ means ‘coral tower’ which describes the young slender stems which are a vibrant coral red and the more mature branches which tend to age with a deeper tone. These hold aloft the finely-cut leaves until they drop for the winter leaving a dramatic and elegant structure which will continue to provide colour and definition in contrast to your evergreen planting.

Its slow-growing nature (reaching 6m after 20 years or more) and compact stature makes it an ideal choice for spaces closer to your house. Elevated in a generous pot, you can imagine the impact its colour and structure will bring to your courtyard or mezzanine. We fell in love with them on a trip to Lanhydrock a number of years ago, where we spotted them growing alongside the tennis courts of various properties. 

Position in sun or light shade on lime free soil (reasonably well drained). Acers hate strong winds (don’t we all), so avoid exposed positions when finding it a home. Prune lightly for health and a tidy up of old stems but never when the sap is rising in the spring.

Produced by cuttings.

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.