In the spring, ‘Japanese Sunrise’ is a coral bark type of maple that has small bright green leaves. In the fall, these leaves turn bright yellow. The feature that grabs everyone’s attention on ‘Japanese Sunrise’ is the bark. On one side of the tree, the bark will be yellow to orange, while on the other side the color of the bark will be orange to coral red. Often as you look up a tree, the bark will be brighter on the newest growth. The multitude of color on the bark is difficult to photograph, but dynamic in the landscape and garden. 

Japanese maples thrive in conditions that mimic their natural habitat which would be areas that offer shelter from harsh winds and protection from the afternoon sun. An ideal spot balances light and shade, ensuring the maple's  leaf colors are displayed yet without risking sunburn or stress from overexposure. These trees thrive in any well-drained, consistently moist soil soil with a balanced pH.

Protection from the hot afternoon sun is recommended in the south however, this maple can do well in full sun in milder climates. It is said to have same color in the bark as one of the most beautiful sunsets in Japan. ‘Japanese Sunrise’ has a nice upright shape typically reaching 10-12 ft in 10 years. Best grown in zones 6-9.

Japanese Maples or Acer palmatum varieties including the "Sunrise" variety, are for the most part considered non toxic to pets but are highly toxic to horses (potentially causing severe illness or death, so keep horses away from them). Generally considered resistant to but deer damage often looks like torn leaves or scraped bark rather than clean cuts