Acer Circinatum - Vine Maple

Will_Heath

I was wondering if anyone has had any luck with the Acer circinatum or commonly called vine maple. I collected one last year with a 1" trunk but it was very leggy. I cut it back hard, put it into a grow box and it has grown quite well in a year.

It has sent out shoots from the roots and branched out into a bush so earlier this spring I pinned the longer branches into separate pots and they took root within a month. I clipped the branches last week and the new plants are all doing well.

Since this species seems to take on a viney growth when in the shade, I am keeping my main plant in a shady area and training it for a full casade style. I am however keeping a couple of the new cuttings in full sun to test out that shade = vine theory.

I have not yet found a picture of one that was trained for bonsai, please let me know if anyone has tried this tree and if so, what do you think?

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Carl_Bergstrom

Hello,

As you probably know, A. circinatum is a native maple closely related to A. palmatum; here in Seattle I see it used as a bonsai subject every now and then. On the positive side, the leaves are nice and the fall colors is superb. On the negative side, the internodes are relatively long and the growth habit can be a bit tricky to manage. The most successful plantings I've seen have been done in a clump or multitrunk style - also a common natural growth habit for this tree.

I haven't tried this one yet myself, but if I ever see a particularly suitable one I will give it a try.

Best regards,
Carl

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Will_Heath

Thanks for the info Carl, it is native here in Michigan and since I seem to have alot of native trees, I wanted to give this a go. I would love to see some pics of a mature bonsai in the species.

Carl_Bergstrom

Here's one from our spring show last year. Dennis Howke took the photographs.

http://psba.8m.com/pic/spring03/03ss6.html

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Will_Heath

Update...

Thanks for your help Carl.

Thought I'd update the Vine Maple, still have a long ways to go on this one.

Will

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Carl_Bergstrom

Hi Will,

Well, first things first. I don't think this is Acer circinatum. First, the leaves are wrong. Second, it's circinatum should not be native to Michigan. So I think you've got yourself something else here.

Second, I guess I have a hard time seeing where this tree is headed. What's the plan here? Several years of free growth?

Best regards,
Carl

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Will_Heath

Hi Carl,

Perfect example of experienced, honest, no holds barred, straight to the gut feedback that makes a person step up to higher levels.

Lets not make this a habit okay, I don't particularly like the taste of crow and I have no intention of finding out if it is a aquired taste.

Good catch, another misindentified tree, it would seem. Now i have six of these in various sizes and I have no ideal what they are....lol. Care to help?

As for this skinny little guy, mame, tiny eggshell pot, some very nice surface rootage already in place. Once I break the trunk on this half though a few more times, I'll make the casade bends...what do you think?

Thanks again!

Will

CD one

Making a completely un-educated guess, the leaves look very much like Current or gooseberry (sp. ribes) They look kind of furry on the photo, not smooth like a maple. But as I said un-edumacated

Colin