Vine Maple: A Pacific Northwest Native for Four-Season Interest

Whether you need a well-behaved small ornamental tree, height for a native planting, fall color, winter interest, or something different, vine maple (Acer circinatum) delivers.

Quick Reference

• Botanical name: Acer circinatum
• Common name: Vine maple
• Origin: SW British Columbia to N. California, usually within 200 miles of Pacific
• USDA zones: 6–9
• Water: Drought tolerant once established; prefers moisture-retentive soil
• Light: Morning sun/afternoon shade or dappled light all day
• Mature size: Rarely >30 ft wild; garden size 12–14 ft tall/wide
• Benefits: Seeds/buds feed squirrels, chipmunks, birds
• Seasonal interest: Year-round
• When to plant: Spring or fall

Distinguishing Traits

In nature, an understory tree/shrub under Douglas fir and western red cedar. Sinewy, moss-cloaked branches wrap like vines.

Spring

Pleated bright green leaves unfurl like butterflies. Dark red and butter-yellow flowers become two-winged scarlet samaras.

Autumn

Hillsides ignite with tangerine, gold, scarlet—bold color persists for months.

Winter

Smooth olive-green bark rivals Japanese maples for winter beauty.

Landscape Uses

• Transitional shrub between ornamental garden and wilder landscape
• Native plant designs
• Ornamental shade garden with ferns, hosta, bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis)
• Specimen tree for small spaces

Typically multi-trunked; select form for your space. Avoid wide multi-trunked forms near paths.

Dwarf Cultivars

‘Little Gem’ (shown) spectacular in containers—orange fall color, red winter stems. Foliage perfectly scaled.

Planting Notes

Hole as deep as root ball, twice as wide. Backfill with native soil + well-rotted compost. Bonemeal encourages roots. Keep well-watered until established.

Whether for a naturalistic shade garden, a garden-to-wild transition, or a container, vine maple is a perfect answer—you’ll soon want another.