Vine Maple, Acer circinatum
Acer circinatum, more commonly known as vine maple, is a dependable native plant that has made its way into horticulture in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. This plant, considered to be small tree or large spreading shrub, was collected by the Lewis and Clark expedition and introduced to Europe in 1826 by the famous plant hunter David Douglas. The Latin name circinatum indicates ‘rounded’ and refers to the shape of the leaves which are almost circular.
Vine maple is native to the Northwest, ranging from Northern California to Southern British Columbia and throughout Washington and Oregon. It is found in lowlands and as high as 6,500 feet in the Cascades. It is an understory plant in coniferous forests and can form a dense, nearly impenetrable thicket. Nonetheless, vine maple forms a sturdy tree when it gets out of the shade and grows into an attractive small tree in the landscape.
The plant has year round interest. Red flowers are visible in early spring and contrast nicely with the soft green and magenta and yellow of the emerging young leaves. In autumn, the color is spectacular and the seed is quite ornamental with its red wings. The fall color of vine maple is one of the first signs that summer is fading, when scarlet-colored foliage brightens the landscape as we drive over the Cascade passes in late summer. In winter, the tips of the branches are bright red, lighting up the winter landscape.
This is a maple of excellent heritage. It is closely related to the Asian maples of the Japonica group—exquisite maples known around the world for their horticultural merit. Vine maple is the only relative of this group native to North America and here are several cultivars of this plant available in the trade:
- ‘Little Gem” is a dwarf form;
- ‘Monroe‘ is an introduction that has deeply cut leaves;
- ‘Burgundy Jewel’ has bronze foliage; and,
- ‘Three Cheers’ is a recent introduction selected for its upright form.
Many of these selections are budded onto Japanese maple understock, confirming the connection this tree has to its Asian relatives.
Consider this tree for a shady spot as a landscape plant or on the edge of a stand of conifers where it will grow out to seek the light. It performs quite well in sun or shade on the west side of the Cascades but will struggle on the east side unless it is protected from afternoon sun.
By Robert Buzzo
Robert Buzzo has worked in the nursery industry in Western Washington for over 40 years. For the past 28 years he has been the Manager of Lawyer Nursery, Inc. in Olympia. He has a degree in Plant Science from UC Davis, is a Certified Professional Horticulturalist (CPH) and is a member of the Washington State Nursery & Landscape Association (WSNLA).
Urban and community Forestry in Washington State 