Acer circinatum vine maple

Acer circinatum leaf and samara. From: Howard E. McMinn & Evelyn Maino, An Illustrated Manual of Pacific Coast Trees

A small tree with large, many-lobed leaves, and having a clambering habit under forest conditions or when cultivated in shady places, where its fall color and red keys with widely spread wings (about 1½ inches long) are valued for their lively effect. Native around Stanford Sierra Camp.

Campus has lost its only specimens, two old plants last reported in 2003 on the east side of the Carnegie Institute main building. In Palo Alto, two are near the garden wall at 2297 Harvard Street.

The ‘Pacific Fire’ cultivar, growing in at least one nearby garden, has coral red branches and stems that fade to salmon, making it a California native response to the ubiquitous coral bark Japanese maple (‘Sango kaku’). It doesn't grow much taller than 8 feet, and isn’t particular full-crowned, making it a fine choice to tuck against a fence when one is short on space.

Name derivation: Acer – Latin for maple; circinatum – rounded (the leaves).