In a family of choice garden trees, the coral-bark maple is quite distinctive, especially in late winter when its coral-red twigs are most obvious. A small tree of twiggy growth, it stands like a beacon if placed where wintry afternoon sun lights its branches. If this occurs with some snow on the ground, it makes for an unforgettable scene.

But the coral-bark maple, Acer palmatum ‘Sango kaku’, formerly ‘Senkaki’, does not confine its beauty to the winter period. When the new leaves appear in spring, they are yellow-green and tinged with red along the leaf edge. The effect is very striking. Later the red tone fades and the leaves become more green, but still lighter in colour than the ordinary green Japanese maple.

In autumn, this variety begins to lighten in tone and eventually changes to bright yellow with reddish undertones. It is very beautiful at this period too. Sometimes a few yellow leaves hang on at the tips of the shoots while the red bark colour develops in November. It grows on acid or limy soils but colours better on acid soil.

Like many Japanese maples, ‘Sango kaku’ is not tolerant of exposure to wind. Although it can be very vigorous and fast-growing as a young tree on well-drained acid soil, its twigs are light and easily die back when subjected to strong wind exposure. It needs to be placed where some taller trees break the prevailing wind. This can make it difficult to find a place where it will get the afternoon sun but not the westerly wind.