Vine Maple (Acer circinatum)

Jan 28

Vine maple is one of the most useful native woody plants for Pacific Northwest landscapes because it tolerates shade, looks good in woodland settings, and can deliver excellent fall color with modest maintenance. It is also a plant that gets ruined by over-pruning: the “see-through” horizontal structure that makes it beautiful in shade is easy to destroy if it is forced into an unnatural hedge shape. If you treat it like a woodland understory tree instead of a screening shrub, it will reward you.

Quick ID

Common name: Vine Maple
Botanical name: Acer circinatum Pursh
Family: Sapindaceae (Maple family)
Plant type: Large shrub to small tree
Evergreen/Deciduous: Deciduous
Mature size: Often 10–20 ft tall in landscapes (can be taller in good sites); commonly multi-stemmed
Hardiness: Commonly grown through much of the Pacific Northwest (often listed around USDA Zone 5)

Key characteristics

Form and habit: Multi-stemmed shrub or small tree; in shade it can sprawl and layer, while in sun it tends to be denser and more upright.
Foliage: Opposite, palmately lobed leaves (commonly 7–9 lobes). Fall color can be yellow-orange to red, especially with more light.
Flowers/fruit/seed: Small spring flowers in clusters; paired samaras that often color up red as they mature.
Bark/twigs/buds (if relevant): Young stems often show green to reddish tones; older stems brown.
Seasonal interest: Best in fall (color) and winter (structure) when stems are allowed to express natural form.

Site and establishment

Light: Shade to part sun is the “easy mode.” It will tolerate sun, but stress management (soil moisture, heat, wind) matters more.
Soil and drainage: Prefers moist, well-drained soils with organic matter. Avoid chronically waterlogged, oxygen-limited soils.
Moisture: Consistent moisture during establishment. Once rooted, it can handle seasonal summer dry periods better than many people expect, but quality declines with repeated drought stress.
Planting notes: Don’t bury the root flare. In woodland beds, keep mulch off the trunk and keep competing turf away from the dripline.
Establishment notes (1–3 years): Irrigate through the first two dry seasons in most landscape settings, especially if planted in brighter exposure.

Care and maintenance

Pruning: Prune for structure, not “shearing.” Start by removing dead, crossing, and inward-growing stems. If size control is needed, use selective reduction cuts rather than heading everything back.
Irrigation strategy: Deep watering during dry stretches is better than frequent light watering. Avoid wetting the canopy late in the day if powdery mildew has been an issue.
Fertility: Usually unnecessary in decent soil. If growth is weak, troubleshoot light, moisture, and compaction first.
Common mistakes: Treating vine maple as a hedge, planting it in full sun with no summer water plan, and burying the base with mulch.

Problems to watch

Likely abiotic issues (PNW): Sun scorch and drought stress on exposed sites; branch dieback following repeated summer water deficits; mechanical damage in tight paths (it wants room).
Pests: Typically low pest pressure in most PNW landscapes.
Diseases: Powdery mildew can show up in some seasons and sites. In general, vigor and airflow matter more than spraying.
Inspection red flags (nursery/receiving/landscape):
- Root flare buried in the container or heavy circling roots at the pot wall
- Multiple stems with included bark unions low on the plant (a future breakage problem if trained as a tree)
- Hard, repeated heading cuts creating a dense “pom-pom” canopy (signals a plant that will always need corrective pruning)

Similar plants and substitutions

Bigleaf maple, Acer macrophyllum (much larger; for larger landscapes)
Japanese maple, Acer palmatum (similar vibe, more cultivar options; non-native)
Serviceberry, Amelanchier alnifolia or A. canadensis (different leaf, good multi-season interest)

Bottom line

Vine maple is a high-value native for woodland landscapes and shaded sites.
It looks best when you preserve its natural architecture, not when you shear it.
Sun exposure is possible, but only if you plan for establishment moisture and reduce heat/wind stress.

Sources

Klinkenberg, Brian, editor. “Acer circinatum Pursh.” E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia, Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Acer%20circinatum. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

“Acer circinatum - Burke Herbarium Image Collection.” Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington, https://burkeherbarium.org/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Acer%20circinatum. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

“Acer circinatum (Oregon Vine Maple, Vine Maple).” Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, The University of Texas at Austin, https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ACCI. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

“Acer circinatum.” Landscape Plants, Oregon State University, https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/acer-circinatum. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

“Acer circinatum.” Fire Effects Information System (FEIS), U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/shrub/acecir/all.html. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.

Chris Welch