We saw Japanese maple Sango kaku used in planters in Washington, DC. Coral red bark was beautiful. Is there a variety we can use here with the harh winter? Is there a variety you can recommend? We have partial shade to full sun, good drainage and loamy soil.

Hi, Lee! I went to Morton Arboretum to research your question - who would know more about what trees work in our area than them! Assuming it is the unusual bark that you are really after, here is what they suggest (paperbark maple is my fav) https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/search-trees-and-plants/?search_string=&tp_plant_type=tree#! The Japanese Maples they recommend are all known for their foliage color, not bark. https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/trees-and-plants/japanese-maple/#cultivars