Coral Bark Maple Trees: How to Plant Coral Bark Japanese Maples

How to Plant Coral Bark Japanese Maples

Coral bark called “Sango-kaku” A small to medium-sized deciduous tree in the Sapindaceae (soapberry) family, Japanese maples are known for their coral-red bark, which is especially striking in the fall and winter when the leaves fall. Native to central and southern Japan, as well as southeast Korea, are Japanese maples. In Latin, acer means “sharp,” and palmatum, which refers to the leaves’ shape, means “hand-shaped.”

Bark made of coral The woody Japanese maple grows slowly to moderately. Plant it in soil that is moist and well-drained, with full sun to partial shade. It can grow in a variety of soil conditions, such as heavy clay and sand. Throughout the spring and summer, the foliage will maintain its light green-yellow hue; in the fall, it will turn a brilliant yellow. New foliage may scorch, but in colder weather, the color intensifies to almost salmon. It produces its best color in full sun. This cultivar can withstand droughts.

To really bring out the red bark, plant it in a garden that needs winter interest, or plant it in an Asian garden, small space, courtyard, or patio.

Diseases, Insects, and Other Issues with Plants

Occasionally, pests include leafrollers, leafhoppers, maple worms, aphids, and scale. It is possible to get anthracnose, leaf scorch, and frost damage, particularly from late frosts. Since it self-seeds readily, it may proliferate and weed out the landscape.

The ground is blanketed in snow, the sky above is bleak, and the bare trees are gray and desolate. A gardener may find it quite depressing when winter arrives and it appears as though the earth has lost all of its color. As you begin to lose hope in this gloomy scene, you happen to glance at a leafless tree whose bark appears to be glowing a reddish pink hue. You rub your eyes, believing that the winter has finally made you insane because you’re seeing red trees in your dreams. But if you refocus, the red tree still stands out vividly against the white background. For information on coral bark trees, continue reading.

Concerning Maple Trees with Coral Bark

Japanese maples known as coral bark maple trees (Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’) provide interest to the landscape throughout the four seasons. Its simple, palmate, seven-lobed leaves open in a vivid chartreuse or lime green in the spring. These leaves change to a deeper green as spring gives way to summer. The leaves change to orange and golden yellow in the fall. The tree’s bark turns a beautiful reddish pink in the fall as the leaves fall, and this color intensifies in the colder months. The more sunlight that a coral bark maple tree receives, the deeper the color of its winter bark. But in warmer climates, a little afternoon shade will also be beneficial to them. They can grow to be nice ornamental understory trees when they reach a mature height of 20 to 25 feet (6-8 m) and a spread of 15 to 20 feet (5-6 m). The red-pink bark of coral bark maple trees can create a striking contrast with deep green or blue-green evergreens in a winter landscape.

Coral Bark Japanese Maple Planting

Choose a location for your coral bark Japanese maples that will keep the plant from drying out too quickly, has well-draining soil, some light shade to protect it from the harsh afternoon sun, and is protected from strong winds. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball, but no deeper, when planting any kind of tree. A tree planted too deeply may develop root girdling. Japanese maple trees with coral bark require the same maintenance as other Japanese maples. Make sure to give it plenty of water each day for the first week after planting. Water deeply every other day for the next week. After the second week, you can give it a deep watering once or twice a week; however, if the tips of the foliage start to turn brown, reduce the frequency of watering. Your coral bark maple can be fertilized in the spring with a well-balanced tree and shrub fertilizer, like a 10-10-10.