Acer circinatum ‘Pacific Fire’ Vine Maple

Pacific Fire Vine Maple is an eye-catching small tree with coral-colored to bright red bark that is perfect for a small garden. Its species, Acer circinatum, is native to the Pacific Northwest, and the ‘Pacific Fire’ cultivar is true to its name—blazing the brightest of the red-twigged maples. It’s adaptable to most environmental conditions and is easy to grow, low-maintenance, deer-resistant, and pollution-tolerant.
This little tree is usually multi-trunked and grows 12″ to 18″ per year, reaching 10′ × 4′ in 10 years. Its leaves are almost circular, with 7 to 9 broad lobes. They are chartreuse when they emerge in spring on red stems, then darken to green on light green stems with a touch of yellow and pink. Fall brings a glow of color with yellow, orange, or sometimes red leaves on bright red stems that become redder as the temperature drops. These unusually colored, waxy stems liven up a fall and winter garden after the leaves drop. Small red flowers populate the tree from spring to early summer and develop into red samara seeds in early fall.
‘Pacific Fire’ will adapt to various levels of light. However, it does best in partial shade, especially in the warmer regions of its 5-9 hardiness zones, where it needs protection from the hot afternoon sun. It is a good understory tree and can be planted successfully under or next to a taller tree that will give it some shade. It is also tolerant of most soil types as long as they are well-draining. It should be watered thoroughly when planted, then weekly for a year until its roots become established. ‘Pacific Fire’ is somewhat drought-resistant but does best when the soil is kept evenly moist. Encourage healthy spring growth by pruning the branches in late winter or early spring.
This little tree makes an excellent addition to a small property or city garden and does well as a colorful container tree on a patio or balcony. Companion plants and trees to grow nearby should have similar cultural requirements of moist, well-draining soil and partial shade. Trees, such as dogwoods, western redcedars, and hemlocks, are attractive planted nearby. Shrubs, such as rhododendrons, azaleas, mountain laurels, and hydrangeas, also do well planted around ‘Pacific Fire.’ Perennials, like Hakone grass, hostas, ferns, astilbes, bleeding hearts, columbines, anemones, hellebores, spring bulbs, and native wildflowers, are excellent companions and provide some extra color in the early spring.