ACER. Maple. The Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. This is a genus of around 150 shrubs and trees, widely scattered over the temperate and subtropical world. Many of them have interesting forms and beautiful bark, which ranges from pale green or grey to deep brown in color, smooth to deeply fissured or shredding in surface. The most familiar leaf form is that with toothed, palmate (handlike) lobes. However, maple leaves may be completely divided into leaflets or unlobed and oval in outline. Few people even think of maples as having flowers. Though small individually, they are often carried in substantial clusters and are quite colorful. They are followed by paired, winged seed capsules called samaras, which are often quite ornamental in their own right. Most Californians are familiar with only a few species, generally those which tolerate drying winds and searing heat (most maples are forest dwellers). Near the coast, however, there are many possibilities. The two which follow are deciduous California natives whose differences illustrate the variety represented in this genus. Their culture differs and is described below. Both should be hardy to 0-10^oF.

circinatum. Vine maple. This is a common streamside shrub or small tree in far northern California and dots the understory of many forests in the wetter Northwest. It has sinuous branches from 6’ to over 30’ long, creating an odd, sprawling form in shade and one more reminiscent of the familiar Japanese maple (A. palmatum) in sun—which it tolerates poorly away from the coast. The bark is smooth, light to bright green when young and taking on yellow and rosy hues as it ages. The leaves are nearly round overall, with several relatively shallow, pointed lobes, and measure 2-6" long. They often show pink or orange shading in new growth, becoming bright apple-green as they expand. In fall they adopt some of the most vivid hues to be found among deciduous shrubs and trees. The tiny flowers are purplish or reddish in color. This is a beautiful shrub-tree for smaller gardens, capable of developing an elegant, flowing form with a little judicious early pruning. It thrives in sun or shade near the coast but needs protection inland. Soil must be acid and well drained, and it should be kept moist at all times.

macrophyllum. Big leaf maple. This is one of the most impressive of our streamside trees, sometimes towering above all others. It has sturdy, arching trunks and often a parasol-like canopy of upper branches. The bark is smooth except when quite old and greyish brown in color. First to appear in spring are the large, drooping clusters of chartreuse flowers. These are closely followed by shiny, often bronze-tinted leaves which turn to deep green, with paler undersides, as they expand. And expand they do, sometimes to as much as 10". They are usually rather deeply 5-lobed, with sharp points on the lobes. In fall, they adopt lovely gold to pale yellow shades, and the large samaras dry to pale tan, sometimes with a rosy blush. The problem with this beautiful tree is its sheer size. It needs at least the space of a large back yard to spread. Otherwise it is quite adaptable, taking all exposures and most soils, though it needs regular watering, except where the local water table is high.