Common Name: Vine Maple

General Information

Acer circinatum is a deciduous shrub or small tree that can grow up to 12 metres tall. When growing in a woodland the plant can become more vine like, producing thinner stems that are long and arching, and clamber into the surrounding vegetation. When growing as a shrub in the open, these branches will often become prostrate and form new roots where they touch the ground -the plant thus developing into an impenetrable thicket of growth. When growing as a tree, the bole can be 25 - 30cm in diameter[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. A very ornamental plant[], a number of varieties are in cultivation[, ].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Western N. America - British Columbia to California

Habitat

Forests, along banks of streams and in rich alluvial soils of bottomlands up to 1200 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	6.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Acer circinatum is a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -25 to 30°c when dormant[, ].
Of easy cultivation, it succeeds in most good soils[], preferring a good moist well-drained soil on the acid side[]. Prefers a sunny position but tolerates some shade[, ]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Chlorosis can sometimes develop as a result of iron deficiency when the plants are grown in alkaline soils, but in general maples are not fussy as to soil pH.
It is often necessary to prune a young plant into shape by removing side branches if you want it to develop into a tree form[].
Most maples are bad companion plants, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants[, ].

Edible Uses

The sap contains a certain amount of sugar and can either be used as a drink, or can be concentrated into a syrup by boiling off the water[]. The syrup is used as a sweetener on many foods. The concentration of sugar is considerably lower than in the sugar maples (A. saccharum).

Medicinal

The wood was burnt to charcoal and mixed with water and brown sugar then used in the treatment of dysentery and polio[].

Other Uses

We have two reports that the leaves of maple species, when laid in layers between crops such as apples, carrots and potatoes, have a preservative effect[, ]. The reports do not name any specific species[].

The young shoots are quite pliable and are used in basket making[]. Straight shoots can be used to make open-work baskets[].

A charcoal made from the wood can be mixed with oil and used as a black paint[].

The wood is almost impossible to burn when green and has served as a cauldron hook over the fire[].

The wood is hard, heavy, durable, close-grained, strong according to some reports, but not strong according to others. Too small to be commercially important, the wood is used for cart shafts, tool handles, small boxes etc[, , , , , , ]. One report says that the wood is quite pliable and was used for making bows, snowshoe frames etc, whilst young saplings could be used as swings for baby cradles[].
The seasoned wood is a good fuel[].

Propagation

Seed is usually of good quality when produced in gardens. It is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, it usually germinates in the following spring. Pre-soak stored seed for 24 hours and then stratify for 2 - 4 months at 1 - 8°c. It can be slow or very poor to germinate, especially if it has been dried. The seed can be harvested 'green' (when it has fully developed but before it has dried and produced any germination inhibitors) and sown immediately. It should germinate in late winter. If the seed is harvested too soon it will produce very weak plants or no plants at all[, ]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until they are 20cm or more tall before planting them out in their permanent positions.
This tree often self-layers and can be propagated by this means.
Cuttings of young shoots in early summer . The cuttings should have 2 - 3 pairs of leaves, plus one pair of buds at the base. Remove a very thin slice of bark at the base of the cutting, rooting is improved if a rooting hormone is used. The rooted cuttings must show new growth during the summer before being potted up otherwise they are unlikely to survive the winter.
Cultivars of this species can be grafted onto A. palmatum, which makes a better rootstock than this species.