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| ## vine maple {#vine-maple .Title-Header}                             |
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| *Acer circinatum* Pursh                                               |
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| Plant Symbol = ACCI                                                   |
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##### *Contributed By: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center*

# Alternative Name

Oregon vine maple

# Uses

*Ethnobotanic*: Native Americans used the straight long stems for making
baskets used for general household utility such as carrying wood and
fish. They also carved the wood into numerous household utensils such as
spoons, bowls, and platters. The sap contains a certain amount of sugar
and that used as a drink or concentrated into syrup by boiling off the
water (Facciola 1990). Vine maple was used occasionally for tool handles
of axes, and frames. This species was used by the Indians of the
northwest coast for the bows of their fishing nets (Sargent 1933). The
saplings were used for babies' cradles.

*Medicinal*: The wood was burnt to charcoal and mixed with water and
brown sugar then used in the treatment of dysentery and polio (Moerman
1998).

*Wildlife*: The seeds and buds provide food for squirrels, chipmunks,
and numerous birds. Cattle and sheep eat vine maple leaves. During the
summer months the leaves and twigs are a preferred food of black-tailed
deer and elk.

*Agroforestry*: Vine maple is used in forested riparian buffers to help
reduce stream bank erosion, protect water quality, and enhance aquatic
environments.

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.2916666666666665in" height="3.4375in"}

# Status

# Please consult the Plants Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant's current status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values.

# Description

*General*: Maple Family (Aceraceae). Vine maple is a native, deciduous
shrub or small tree that ranges between ten to twenty feet. The leaves
are round to cordate, usually seven to nine centimeters long, pointed,
and double toothed. The flowers are white petals in small loose clusters
emerging with the leaves. The bark is thin, smooth, and greenish
becoming bright reddish brown.

# *Distribution*: *Acer circinatum* occurs in the Pacific Northwest ranging from the Cascade Mountains to southern British Columbia to northern California. For current distribution, please consult the Plant profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

# 

# Adaptation

Vine maple occurs most frequently on moist soils along the banks of
streams and wet sites. It commonly occurs with Douglas fir, Pacific
dogwood, big leaf maple, and western hemlock. This species prefers shady
areas but can tolerate the sun. It sometimes grows in clumps or patches
(Farrar 1995).

# Establishment

*Propagation from Seed*: The seeds should be gathered and immediately
stratified for 90 days at 41º F to break seed dormancy. Sow the seeds in
containers or seed trays containing a slow release fertilizer. Firm the
medium and place the seeds thinly and evenly on top and cover with
medium (Heusser 1997). Seedlings should be placed into individual pots
when they are large enough to handle.

*Propagation from Softwood Cuttings*: Cuttings should be done in the
spring or early summer in the early morning. Take cuttings about five to
ten centimeters long, just above the node. Put cuttings in a plastic bag
to prevent moisture loss (Heuser 1997). They must not be allowed to
wilt. Trim the cuttings below the lowest node to remove the lower leaves
leaving three or four at the tip (Ibid.). A rooting hormone may be
applied to improve rooting before planting. Insert the cuttings in the
rooting medium up to half their length so the leaves don't touch each
other. The cuttings should root in two to three weeks, after which they
can be potted (Ibid.).

# Management

Constant pruning is needed to avoid long internodes. Watering may be
reduced in the winter but the soil should be kept evenly moist.

Vine maple sends out slender arching branches in the wild. These form
roots when they touch the ground and the plant thereby forms large
impenetrable thickets often several hectares (Sargent 1965).

## 

# Cultivars, Improved and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

Somewhat available through native plant nurseries.

## 

# References

Britton, N.L. 1908. *North American trees*. Henry Holt & Company, New
York, New York.

Dirr, M.A. 1990. *Manual of woody landscape plants: their
identification, ornamental characteristics, culture, propagation, and
uses*. 4^th^ ed. Stipes Publishing Co., Champaigne, Illinois.

Facciola, S. 1990. *Cornucopia-a source book of edible plants*. Kampong
Publications.

McMinn, H.E. 1951. *An illustrated manual of California shrubs*.
University of California Press, Berkeley & Los Angeles, California.

McMinn, H.E. & E. Maino 1951. *An illustrated manual of pacific coast
trees*. University of California Press, Berkeley, California.

Moerman, D. 1998. *Native American ethnobotany*. Timber Press, Portland,
Oregon.

Heuser, C.W. 1997. *The complete book of plant propagation*. The Taunton
Press, Newtown, Connecticut.

Preston, R.J., Jr. 1989. *North American trees*. 4^th^ ed. Iowa State
University Press, Ames, Iowa.

## 

## Rehder, A. 1940. *Manual of cultivated trees and shrubs hardy in North America*. 2^nd^ ed. The MacMillan Company, New York, New York.

## 

Sargent, C.S. 1933. *Manual of the trees of North America*. The
Riverside Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Sargent, C.S. 1965. *Manual of the trees of North America*. Vol. 1.
Dover Publications, Inc., New York, New York.

# Prepared By

#### *Jammie Favorite*, formerly USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

# Species Coordinator

*Lincoln Moore*, USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge,
Louisiana

Edited: 10jan02 jsp; 25feb03 ahv; 24may06jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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