Pacific Fire Vine Maple

Pacific Fire vine maple (*Acer circinatum* ‘Pacific Fire’) is an upright, multi-stemmed small tree selected for scarlet-to-coral young stems that bring color to late autumn and winter. Light green spring foliage matures to green in summer and turns yellow to orange in fall, making this Pacific Northwest native a striking specimen or woodland-border tree. ## Landscape value Allow room for a small tree rather than a narrow shrub. Great Plant Picks estimates about 12 feet tall by 8 feet wide at ten years and 18 by 15 feet at maturity; Monrovia gives a similar mature range. J. Frank Schmidt lists 12 by 8 feet. Use the larger mature dimensions when siting it, while recognizing that size varies with light, moisture, and pruning. Its bright young twigs are the signature feature; older branches gradually mellow toward orange-red. The broad, lobed leaves provide a green summer canopy and yellow-orange autumn color. It works as a focal plant in a small yard, a shrub-border accent, or an understory tree. Despite its resemblance to coral-bark Japanese maples, this is a cultivar of the North American vine maple, not a Japanese maple hybrid. ## Growing conditions A practical hardiness range is USDA zones 5–9, with zone 5 supported by Oregon State University and Trees and Shrubs Online and 5–9 by Great Plant Picks and Monrovia. Give it full sun to light or dappled shade; morning sun with afternoon shade can support color while reducing heat stress. It performs best in moist, well-drained soil and tolerates a range of soil textures, including sand and clay. Water consistently as it establishes and during dry periods. Great Plant Picks notes that plants are often grafted onto Japanese maple rootstock and can be less drought tolerant than the species, so do not treat this as a low-water selection. Small greenish-white flowers may appear in spring, followed by paired winged seeds. ## Cultivar origin and rights The original selector is not identified in the references reviewed. [J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co.](https://jfschmidt.com/all-trees/pacific-fire-maple/) and [Monrovia](https://www.monrovia.com/pacific-fire-vine-maple.html) publish cultivar profiles, while [Broken Arrow Nursery](https://www.brokenarrownursery.com/acer-circinatum-pacific-fire-pacific-fire-vine-maple.html) lists the cultivar and states that it did not introduce it. I could not verify a plant-patent number for ‘Pacific Fire’ in the sources reviewed. ## Maintenance **Moderate maintenance.** Keep the root zone from drying during establishment and extended dry spells. Remove dead, broken, or poorly placed branches to preserve its naturally upright form. If brighter red young stems are a priority, selectively renew some older shoots during dormancy; routine shearing is unnecessary. Keep heavier pruning selective so the plant retains its branching character.