Vine maple (Acer circinatum)

Plant Profile

Vine maple creates small canopies with its rounded, five- to nine-lobed leaves, filling in the forest understory above streams and other damp spots. In fall its foliage provides the deepest hues of any North Coast trees -- rich wines and oranges that make the dogwood pale by comparison, and which warm, with their color, the chilly creek canyons.

This large shrub or small tree, reminiscent of a Japanese maple, ranges in height from 5 - 35 feet. In deep forest shade, it becomes a sprawling, broadly spreading shrub, but if grown in full sun, it develops into a single-trunked, upright tree. The tiny reddish purple flowers appear in early spring, before the tree covers itself with bright green foliage.

Culture

Plant vine maple either in light shade or full sun. While this plant likes moisture, it can survive with just an occasional deep watering during the dry season, especially if grown in coastal areas. In interior regions, it needs protection from the mid-day sun and more water in the summer.

California Native Plant Society - North Coast Chapter
P.O. Box 1067 Arcata, CA 95518-1067
Last updated February 4, 1997