Acer palmatum 'Sangokaku' (coral-bark Japanese maple)
- Regular price
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€28,95 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€28,95
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Sangokaku's bark dull? The cold triggers the coral color: a tree brought indoors or sheltered retains brown-green bark.
How can I keep the branches of a Sangokaku bright red? By removing a few old branches in February, as only one- to three-year-old branches are coral.
SHIPPING & PACKAGING
Shipping within 24/48 hours via DPD
- Delivery in 2 to 5 business days
- Eco-friendly packaging: recyclable boxes and biodegradable materials
- Special protection to ensure the plant arrives in perfect condition
- Parcel tracking sent by email as soon as shipped
- Free delivery on orders over €50
48H QUALITY GUARANTEE
We guarantee that your plants will arrive in perfect condition. If your plant arrives damaged or in poor condition:
- Contact us within 48 hours at hello@verdeia.eu with photos
- Free replacement or full refund
- No return necessary – we trust you
The guarantee covers: damage related to transport, severely weakened plant upon arrival, preparation errors.
CARE TIPS UPON ARRIVAL
To help your plant settle in for the long term:
- Unpack immediately and inspect your plant
- Let it acclimatize 24-48h in a bright spot without direct sunlight
- Check soil moisture before watering (dry surface = light watering)
- Wait 2-3 weeks before repotting
- Avoid heat sources and drafts
- Gently wipe leaves to remove dust
Need help? Contact our team at hello@verdeia.eu or via chat.
🪸 Coral-red bark in winter • 🌿 Soft green foliage in spring • 🍂 Golden yellow in autumn • ⛅ Partial shade to gentle sun • ❄️ Hardy down to -20 °C
Acer palmatum 'Sangokaku', whose Japanese name means coral tower, is the only Japanese maple whose main appeal comes in winter: once the leaves have fallen, its young branches turn a vivid coral red that intensifies with the cold. A species native to the forests of Japan and Korea, it is the most unusual of the Japanese maples in the catalog.
Its distinctive feature lies in this reversed cycle: soft green foliage edged in red in spring, bright green in summer, golden yellow in October, then bare coral branches from November to March. Available in H35 cm in a Pot Ø12 cm or H90 cm in a Pot Ø26 cm - in this larger size, the tree already has enough branches for the effect to be visible from the first winter.
Which Japanese maple should you choose?
Six cultivars in the catalog, with different colors and sizes:
- 'Sangokaku' (this plant) - coral-red bark in winter, green then golden foliage (2 sizes). The only one that is decorative without leaves.
- 'Bloodgood' - purplish red foliage that holds its color all summer without turning green (2 sizes). The most stable red.
- 'Atropurpureum' - deep purple turning bronze, the most vigorous (3 sizes).
- 'Garnet' - finely cut garnet red foliage, weeping habit (H40 cm | Pot Ø19 cm). The finest foliage.
- 'Orange Dream' - orange shoots then soft green, golden in autumn (3 sizes). The most changeable.
- 'Going Green' - bright green turning orange-red in autumn (2 sizes). The brightest.
Exposure & location
Japanese maple is just as sensitive to scorching sun as it is to dry wind. With 'Sangokaku', the location also determines the intensity of the coral color: exposure to cold and winter light reveals the bark's color.
- Exposure: partial shade or morning sun - avoid full southern afternoon sun in summer.
- Location: terrace, patio, sheltered balcony — preferably visible from indoors to enjoy the bark in winter.
- Hardiness in a pot: down to -20 °C — the cold intensifies the red color of the branches.
- Soil type: moist, well-draining, and acidic — ericaceous soil mixed with potting soil, never calcareous.
A 'Sangokaku' overwintered under cover loses most of its bark color: it is the cold that triggers the coral color, not the season.
Watering & care
Japanese maple roots are shallow and are equally sensitive to drought and waterlogging. A moist but well-draining substrate is the right combination, and the foliage always signals a problem before it worsens.
- Watering: regular — the substrate should remain moist from April to September, without ever becoming waterlogged.
- Water: non-calcareous water is essential — hard water alkalizes the substrate and causes chlorosis within two or three seasons.
- Mulching: essential in a pot — a layer of pine bark keeps the soil cool and gently acidifies it.
- Pruning: the only exception among maples — removing a few old branches with brown bark in February encourages the production of young branches, the only ones to be coral.
- Fertilizer: fertilizer for ericaceous plants, once at the beginning of spring.
Only one- to three-year-old branches are coral; beyond that, the bark turns brown and loses its color.
Decor ideas & plant pairings
This is the tree to place within view from a window: its highlight lasts from November to March, when you spend less time outdoors and the rest of the balcony is dormant.
- For a colorful winter, pair it with a 'Blue Maid' holly — red berries and coral bark against dark foliage, the most effective winter arrangement in the catalog.
- For a neutral backdrop, place a 'Etna' cherry laurel behind it — its solid deep green makes the coral of the bare branches stand out.
- For foliage contrast, add a 'Bloodgood' Maple — dense purple against soft green in summer, then scarlet against golden in autumn.
- To enhance the pot, a dark container in ceramic or dark terracotta emphasizes the red of the bark through direct contrast.
Lit from the side in winter, a bare 'Sangokaku' forms a spray of red stems that no other terrace plant produces.
Verdeia tips
- Leave it outside all winter: it is the cold that triggers the coral red of the branches. A plant brought indoors or sheltered retains a dull brown-green bark and loses everything that justifies choosing this cultivar.
- Renew the branches every two or three years: only young shoots are coral, as the bark later turns brown. Removing a few old branches in February stimulates the production of new wood and maintains the color.
- Place it in front of a window: its finest moment is winter, when we make little use of the terrace. Seen from a living room, it is far more useful than at the back of a garden.
Technical specifications
- Botanical name: Acer palmatum 'Sangokaku' (syn. 'Senkaki')
- Common name: Coral Bark Japanese Maple
- Family: Sapindaceae
- Origin: forests of Japan and Korea
- Delivery dimensions: 2 sizes — H35 cm | Pot Ø12 cm or H90 cm | Pot Ø26 cm
- Habit: upright then spreading, with fine, dense branches
- Adult height: 4 to 6 metres in the ground, 2 metres in a pot
- Exposure: partial shade or morning sun, sheltered from the wind
- Watering: regular, with the substrate kept moist during the season
- Water: non-calcareous water required
- Soil type: moist, well-drained and acidic, never calcareous
- Hardiness: down to -20 °C
- Growth: moderate, renewal pruning in February
- Foliage: deciduous, soft green edged with red in spring, golden yellow in October
- Bark: young coral-red branches from November to March
- Care: easy apart from exposure
- Toxicity: 🐾 non-toxic to animals and children
- Decorative style: Japandi / Graphic / Wintery
Each plant is unique: branching, the number of young shoots, and the intensity of the coral color naturally vary according to age and exposure.
Your plant, delivered with care
Every plant is hand-packed in a box specially designed for plants — secured, protected, ready to travel. It arrives in perfect condition, roots intact and foliage preserved, ready to take its place in your home.
Our Verdeia commitments
FAQ – Everything to know before adopting your Verdeia plant
How are my plants prepared before shipping?
All our plants are selected from our European partner nurseries. Before shipping, they are watered, cleaned, and protected with breathable, secure packaging. Each package is designed to ensure your plant arrives in perfect health, without any transport-related stress.
Will the plant look exactly like the photo?
The photos accurately represent the variety and the stated size. Since each plant is unique, slight differences in shape, foliage, or color may occur — and that’s part of their charm.
What are the delivery times and conditions?
Shipping is done within 48 business hours, with tracked delivery within 2 to 5 business days. Delivery costs €5.60 — free for orders over €50. You will receive a tracking link as soon as the package is shipped.
What to do upon receiving my plant?
Open your package as soon as you receive it and carefully remove the plant from its packaging. Let it acclimate for 24 hours in its new environment before watering. If it has been slightly stressed during transport, it will recover its shape after one or two days in the light.
What to do if my plant arrives damaged?
Contact us within 48 hours with a photo of the issue. Our team will assess the situation and offer you the best solution: replacement, partial refund, or recovery advice.
Can I return a plant?
Since plants are living beings, standard returns are not possible. However, we guarantee good health upon delivery: if the plant arrives damaged, it will be replaced free of charge. For any other cases (order error, decorative pot, accessory), returns are possible within 14 days.