Japanese Maple Corallinum

The foliage changes and semi-dwarf habit make this one of the most beloved of all Japanese maples!

There’s an old saying about the weather here in Texas — if you don’t like it, just wait 5 minutes and it’ll change! Well, that’s about the case with Corallinum, too! The leaves change more frequently than the seasons on this splendid little Japanese Maple, making it one of the most beloved small trees for the home landscape.

If you like brilliant color and plenty of it, you MUST find a place of honor for this showstopper! The show begins in early spring, when the new leaves unfurl a dazzling shrimp pink. 5 to 7-lobed and just begging to be pressed between the leaves of a book and photographed madly, they are exquisitely colorful in the bright spring sunshine. As the weather warms, they burn rich shades of red shot with light green — no two alike, yet all beautiful. And in fall they turn a uniform scarlet so dazzling you’ll reach for the sunglasses!The best thing about Corallinum is that even if you’ve only got a few available feet of garden space, you can squeeze it in.

Just 5 to 6 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide at maturity, it’s ideal for the patio, either side of the entryway, the foundation planting, or the front-yard accent bed. And it makes an unforgettable impact even in large gardens — nothing else can compare with its foliage changes! The habit is compact and dense, so it makes a big color show in a small space.Corallinum was introduced in England about 100 years ago. It grows slowly, is very tolerant of heat and humidity, and fares best in light shade to protect its leaves from burn. To avoid seeding variation, we offer only asexually-reproduced selections.

Zones 5-8