Acer palmatum 'Winter Orange' Orange Coral Bark Japanese Maple

'Winter Orange' is a vigorous Japanese maple with small, bright green summer foliage that transitions to yellow-orange in autumn. The cultivar is distinguished by exceptionally bright orange bark that intensifies during winter months and provides striking four-season interest. It develops a substantial upright form, typically reaching 10-12 feet in 10 years with growth rates of 12-14 inches annually, making it one of the faster-growing coral bark selections. According to the growers at Mr Maple, the bark color is most vivid in full sun and becomes more intense as temperatures drop; planting against a dark evergreen backdrop or building wall further accentuates the orange display. The tree performs reliably in zones 6-9 and shows exceptional heat tolerance even in zone 8, and pairs well in winter gardens with red- and yellow-barked maples such as 'Sengaku Kaku' and 'Beni Kawa'.