ACER PALMATUM 'SANGO-KAKU'

It is 16 October 2025 and a recent arrival to my garden is Acer palmatum Sango-Kaku, also known as the Coral-bark maple. I'm already hooked on Japanese maples (acers) but am limited with regard to numbers by the size of my garden which, at most, is 30ft by 30ft, and already houses a garden room and a shed. In the images below you can see its spring and autumnal colours and even when all the leaves are shed, there will still be that outstanding bark! 
UPDATE:  It is now the 7th of May, 2026, and Sango is doing well.  I have taken new photographs to show that. 

Acer palmatum Sango-Kaku - May 7, 2026

Sango-Kaku can, over time, achieve 8 metres if left to do as it pleases. It is of bushy habit and mine is going to be restricted by root pruning. It is already 3ft (90cm) tall and reaching for the stars. It needed repotting as it was already rather root bound and I don't want to inhibit its growth just yet. 

Acer palmatum Sango-Kaku - May 7, 2026

I didn't want just any old pot for Sango, I wanted something that would protect its roots. After all, plants buried in the ground are more protected from freezing cold than those in pots. I needed a pot that would withstand freezing cold, no cracking, no messing, no worrying. I found that pot with The Terracotta Pot Company, in Hull. They have such a fantastic choice, a 50 year guarantee on their pots and excellent customer service. My choice was limited by weight and suitable size.  I chose the Monachou Fardipata Cretan Terracotta Planter, the smallest size at 25cm x 35cm. It will happily accommodate Sango for quite a few years, hopefully. Included with the pot I was also supplied with jumbo feet for it which will keep it off the ground and allow free drainage. 

Monachou Fardipata Cretan Terracotta Pot

Although the Monachou pot is just what I wanted, it was still too big for young Sango and I decided to repot the acer in a little bit larger plastic pot, then immerse the pot in terracotta pot surrounded by a protection of mini bark - my choice is Melcourt Sylvabark Pine Bark Mini Mulch. In fact, plastic pot within a heavy terracotta is a good thing to do as it means I can easily lift out the tree for root pruning, or to move the terracotta pot without the additional weight of the tree. 

Sango is fully hardy, rated plant zone H6 by the Royal Horticultural Society. In summer its leaves are green but that doesn't matter because at that time of year there is so much more going on in my garden. Sango's time to shine is in spring and autumn when the leaves are yellow and in winter, after leaves are shed, there is still that special red bark.

Acer palmatum Sango-Kaku autumn colour of the leaves - October 2025