Most maple species seem to have many popular cultivars, but there seem to be very few cultivars of our native Acer circinatum. Is this because it does not tend to produce sports or mutations with different characteristics or just because there is no demand? I just read about a few cultivars on the web, but have never heard them mentioned in any westcoat gardening book, lecture, or article or seen them offered in a local nursery. It seems like even if there isn't a lot of naturally occuring leaf variation there might be valuable selections with particularly green bark or a more arching/weeping form. Has UBC ever attempted to develop/market a special A circenatum? One of the posts here said that Japanese maples could hybridize with A. circenatum, but again I have never heard of such a plant being offered for sale or even described anywhere. It seems like the combination might offer valuable characteristics. What's up here.
'Allyn Cook' 'Glen Del' 'Little Gem' 'Monroe' 'Pacific Fire' 'Sunglow' 'Sunny Sister' were all present somewhere on the retail market in this region some years ago. 'Little Gem' and 'Monroe' remain pretty easily found. 'Pacific Fire' seems to be becoming rather prevalent also, I just bought one myself yesterday. In recent years purple foliage color forms 'Burgundy Jewel' and 'JFS-Purple' have been added to the list. http://www.jfschmidt.com/introductions/pacificpurple/index.html
Van, Acer circinatum does not do well outside the Pacific Northwest. Here in the south where I live it fries quite reliably in the heat and humidity, even in the shade. So in many areas of the country there would be little demand for such a plant, especially with the preponderance of Acer palmatum cultivars that offer superior climate adaptaion. Acer circinatum will hybridize with Acer palmatum, and there a few hybrids I know of: Herbstfeur Ki setsudoe Autumn Flame I have all of these, and they do well here in my climate.
Oh yes, there is one more Acer circinatum cultivar that was not mentioned, and its probably the one that does best for me here - 'Pacific Sprite'. Its an upright dwarf with crinkled leaves sort of like Acer palmatum Shishigashira. If you'd like to try some of these varieties out I would suggest ordering some through mail-order nurseries in the Northwest. They would carry a lot of the more unusual ones, as opposed to your local nursery.
I have been growing Monroe, Pacific Fire, Sunglow, Sunny Sister for a few years (2007)in the Midwest. They seem to struggle for two years and then settle in and do fine. I thought I was going to have to move Sunny Sister because it was getting too much sun and late afternoon sun, at that. However, last year it looked good and didn't burn, plus the buds/branches at the end of the season looked healthy and strong. I love Sunglow, my first one was planted in a very shady location and the yellow leaves glowed all summer. Then a giant oak fell on it so I had to get another. It's planted in more sun, different location, just last year. Hopefully it won't mind the increased sun. Monroe is in a really shady, dry location and is slow, but looks good. We get pretty hot and humid during the summer, 90's F. with same humidity, but they seem to adapt so far. Oh, Pacific Fire was the least successful, it died back over its first winter. I kept it, even though it was a small 1 foot twig and it's a bushy one and a half foot twig now:) The branches are a nice, bright red, though, so I'll baby it along and be patient. I lost Little Gem over the first winter I had it. I thought about trying it again, maybe keep it in a pot for a couple years before planting it out, but there are just so many...so many maples, so little time. As suggested, I got all of mine from Forest Farm. Kay
P.S. I forgot that I ordered one recently called 'Pacific Purple.' Has anyone grown that? It won't be coming until spring, but it looks like it could be nice. Kay
Greer Gardens always has a couple of circinatum varieties. I've purchased Monroe, Little Little Gem and Pacific Fire from them. Currently, they have 8 cultivars listed in their catalog. http://www.greergardens.com/acers.htm
Pacific Purple is a registered trademark used to sell 'JFS-Purple'. Originating nursery's web page on the tree is linked to in my above post.
Ron, I have never ordered from Greer, don't know why. I think I will, though, since I have had good luck with circ. in the Midwest. The shipping is always so high, but they have some dwarfs that sound interesting. I'm hoping when my kids finally put me in "the home" that I will be able to take some container maples with me (HA) I got Alleyne Cook, Little Little Gem, Whitney Broom, Pacific Sprite, all which sound pretty dwarf. Greer should give you a commission:) Kay
We have 'Monroe' and 'Little Gem' growing in the Garden, I don't think we have any other cultivars at the moment.
