# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 12 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Vine Maple](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Vine_Maple_leaves_and_flowers.jpg&width=800) Photo: Tony Perodeau, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vine_Maple_leaves_and_flowers.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Sapindaceae - **Genus:** Acer ## 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 - **Twisting Growth:** Vine Maples can bend and twist their flexible trunks, allowing them to grow towards precious sunlight in dense forests. - **Shade Adapter:** Its thin leaves are excellent at capturing dappled light, helping it thrive in the shady understory of taller trees. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — Deer browse its leaves and twigs - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees collect nectar from its flowers - **Shelter:** [Dark-eyed Junco](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dark-eyed-junco) (*Junco hyemalis*) — Birds nest in its dense branches ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## 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? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Lower Cushman Dam](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lower-cushman-dam) — Washington, US · Historic Site - [Mehatl Creek Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mehatl-creek-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Ross Lake National Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ross-lake-national-recreation-area) — Washington, US · National Park - [Carl S. English, Jr., Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/carl-s-english-jr-botanical-gardens) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden - [Cascades Raptor Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cascades-raptor-center) — Oregon, US · Zoo - [Fort Hoskins](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-hoskins) — Oregon, US · Park [View all places to see Vine Maple](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/vine-maple) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Vine Maple: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/vine-maple)