Vine Maple
ExplorePlants
Vine Maple
Acer circinatum
The Vine Maple is a small tree with beautiful, green leaves that turn bright red and orange in the fall. It loves to grow in shady spots and is often found near streams and rivers.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The Vine Maple has slender, often multi-stemmed trunks and smooth, greenish bark. Its distinctive palmate leaves feature 7-9 shallow lobes, turning vibrant shades of red, orange, or yellow in autumn, setting it apart from many other maples.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderSapindalesFamilySapindaceaeGenusAcer
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
12
Interesting facts
Its super flexible wood was traditionally used by Native Americans for making snowshoe frames!
The leaves have tiny hairs on their undersides, which can help store extra water during dry spells!
Vine Maple sap can be tapped and boiled down to make a sweet syrup, just like sugar maples!
You can often find them growing tangled up with other trees, creating cool natural arches!
Special abilities
Ability
Twisting Growth
Vine Maples can bend and twist their flexible trunks, allowing them to grow towards precious sunlight in dense forests.
Ability
Shade Adapter
Its thin leaves are excellent at capturing dappled light, helping it thrive in the shady understory of taller trees.
Ability
Resilient Re-sprouter
If damaged, Vine Maple can quickly re-sprout from its base, helping it recover after disturbances like fires.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 500-800 cm
- Spread
- 400-600 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.5-1 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
eats
North American Beaver
Castor canadensis
Beavers chew its bark and branches
eats
Mule Deer
Odocoileus hemionus
Deer browse its leaves and twigs
pollinates
European Honey Bee
Apis mellifera
Bees collect nectar from its flowers
shelters
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
Birds nest in its dense branches
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Broadleaf Tree
Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Fall Color
Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues.
Pollinator Magnet
Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always stay on paths when exploring forests and don't climb trees without an adult.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Vine Maple?
The easiest way to identify Vine Maple is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How tall is Vine Maple?
500-800 cm
How wide does Vine Maple spread?
400-600 cm
How big are the flowers on Vine Maple?
0.5-1 cm
When does Vine Maple bloom?
Spring
Is Vine Maple edible?
Yes
Is Vine Maple toxic?
None
What is Vine Maple's lifecycle?
Perennial
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
May 28, 2026
Hoyt Arboretumi
Photo attribution
no rights reserved
License: CC0 1.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
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