Red Dirt Ramblings®

Firmly rooted in the Oklahoma soil

Plant this: Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku’

I know, they say it’s been overdone, but really, with fall color like this, who cares?

Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku,' a truly fine Japanese maple

In our hot part of the world, most Japanese maples need to be grown in some shade.

This cultivar lights up the shade garden with beautiful fall foliage, lovely lime-green leaves in spring, and florescent pink bark in winter.

What more could you ask of a decorative, small tree?

So, my suggestion for the day is plant Acer palmatum ‘Sango-kaku.’ Why don’t you?

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Les

    Like I tell my customers, some things are common for a reason, and this tree has several good reasons to be common.

  4. Phillip

    One of my favorites. I think the color on yours is more vibrant than mine. I just photographed it yesterday and the color is very pale yellow.

  5. Lucy Corrander

    Autumn always brings me more joy than spring and colours like this never fail to lighten the day.

    Having said which – have just heard there’s been an earthquake somewhere in Oklahoma. Hope you are ok.

    • Dee Nash

      Hi Lucy, yes, we’ve had earthquakes in the last two days. Although Oklahoma is on a fault line, it rarely produces earthquakes. I slept through the first one, but last night was flat-out freaky. Scared me. My first.~~Dee

  6. Toni - Signature Gardens

    Sango Kaku is one of my favorite maples. I am surprised how far ahead of us you are just a few hours north. Your color is so strong already and the stems are even red already! So pretty!! I won’t see color on my maples until December. I have added 3 new maples this past year (23 total now –yea!), so I am excited to see their fall/winter color this year (with the few leaves they have left on them after this summer — yeesh!)

    • Dee Nash

      Toni, it is such a pretty thing isn’t it? Wow, twenty-three maples! I can’t imagine. Since I’ve starting blogging, I’ve noticed a lot of subtle changes with only a few miles here and there. Amazing really.

  7. Helen

    What a lovely Acer – nice to see one that isnt red. I am making a note of that one and will see if I can find one as it would look lovely in my garden. Thanks

    • Dee Nash

      Thank you Helen. It’s definitely a bright summer green. It is quite the chameleon with pink bark in winter, lime green leaves in spring and lovely yellow leaves in fall. A keeper for sure.

  8. Andreaa

    Maybe all the Acer are beautiful in Autumn no matter what species. If only they will grow in the tropics, or maybe they grow but they might remain green as we only have the dry and the wet seasons!

    • Dee Nash

      Andrea, I agree. Maples are among the most beautiful trees in colder, winter climates. They might simply remain green where you live, unless, of course, you planted the red ones.

  9. Lisa at Greenbow

    I might be able to squeeze in another small tree. I would love to actually. You are an enabler.

  10. VW

    Why not plant one? . . . some Japanese maples aren’t hardy enough for my climate, unfortunately. I had an Acer dissectum viridis in my backyard for a couple of years, then it up and died one winter. I was really sad. But your maple here is very pretty! And there are some that are hardy enough for our area, I’m sure. I’ll just have to look for them.

  12. Layanee

    Why not indeed! Beautiful. I did have one which was damaged by bark split in late February. Care in siting it is critical for success…I found that out the hard way. Time for another. Thanks for reminder.

    • Dee Nash

      Layanee, I have one in front of a different type which almost died after a late freeze. I think it is planted in soil which is too mounded so that its roots get too cold. I had to chop out half of it. I wonder if it will last this winter.