Acer circinatum
Vine maple
(c) Harry Podschwit, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Harry Podschwit · licence
Family: Sapindaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Native
Acer circinatum (Vine maple) is a native California shrub / tree in the Sapindaceae family, recognized by sprawling shrub habit and deeply lobed leaves.
Vine maple is a California native shrub found in northern and central California's Northwest, High Cascade Range, and northern Sierra Nevada in shaded streambank habitats at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from May to June, this plant produces small greenish-white flowers in terminal clusters before its leaves emerge. Growing as a sprawling shrub or small tree 1 to 6 meters tall with branches that occasionally root, it develops distinctive, wide maple leaves 5.5 to 9 centimeters long with 7 to 9 sharply toothed lobes. Its leaves are pale green underneath, with a broad shape that spreads to 9 centimeters wide and features pronounced lobing across one-quarter to one-half of the leaf surface. The fruit develops distinctive winged seeds that spread at an angle of 160 to 210 degrees, creating an elegant botanical display.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species; distinguished by sprawling shrub habit and deeply lobed leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Shaded streambanks
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Trinity, Humboldt, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Shasta, Mendocino, Butte, Riverside, Tuolumne, San Francisco, Lake
Outside California: to Alaska
Bloom period
Acer circinatum blooms May-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Platanus: Maple fruits are paired helicopters; sycamore has hanging ball-like seed clusters and peeling bark.; vs Liquidambar: Maple fruits split into two wings; sweetgum has spiky round seed balls and star-shaped leaves with pointed lobes.; vs Quercus: Maple leaves have palmate veins radiating from base; oak leaves have pinnate veins branching from midrib.; vs Fraxinus: Maples have simple lobed leaves; ash has compound leaves with 5-9 separate leaflets arranged feather-like.; vs Morus: Maple fruits are dry winged samaras; mulberry produces fleshy blackberry-like fruits and has milky sap.
Frequently asked questions
Is Acer circinatum native to California?
Yes. Acer circinatum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Acer circinatum bloom?
Acer circinatum blooms May-Jun.
Where in California does Acer circinatum grow?
Acer circinatum occurs in Trinity, Humboldt, Del Norte, Siskiyou, Shasta, Mendocino, Butte, Riverside and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Acer circinatum belong to?
Acer circinatum is in the Sapindaceae family, genus Acer.
What habitat does Acer circinatum grow in?
Acer circinatum grows in Shaded streambanks.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.