Acer circinatum ’Pacific Fire’
Lisa A
Posted: Nov-12-2003 at 11:25am
Is any one growing Acer circinatum 'Pacific Fire' or have you seen it in a garden? It sounds intriguing and perfect for a spot in my side garden but I can't find much about it on the 'net. TIA!
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Gardening in Sunset Zone 6, USDA Zone 8.
Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul. - The Koran
DebbieTT
Posted: Nov-12-2003 at 11:39pm
It seems I remember something about this, but I can't tell you where I heard it.
There is Acer cirnatum 'Little Gem' that is on my wish list as it gets only 4 feet tall and as wide. This is originally from a witches broom from a tree out of Vancouver, B.C.
Please tell us what you know so far about A. 'Pacific Fire', with a name like that sounds like great Autumn color.
Wow did a search, I see why you want it! From Stanley and Sons which you probably already saw in your search.
A fast upright almost columnar growing Vine Maple. Large chartruse leaves with a light pink on top. In Winter bark is like a 'Sango Kaku' turning fire red. In Fall yellow leaves on fire red bark. Spring green on red.
Stanley and Sons Nursery
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JeanneK
Posted: Nov-13-2003 at 7:31am
Wow, that's a beautiful vine maple. The bark is a gorgeous color. I was just admiring my coral bark maple yesterday, the color of this bark is even more red.
Looks like a wholesale nursery. I suppose you have to get your retail nusery to order it for you?
KellieD
Posted: Nov-13-2003 at 8:11am
I am growing Acer circinatum 'Pacific Fire'. It is the focal point in my yard and has gone from a 1 gallon to about 8' tall in 5 years.
The bark and twigs are absolutely incredible in the winter, far surpassing the color of the coral bark maple. Mine is growing in full sun in a well drained soil with a good top mulch. I don't know if the bark will color up as well in more shade and shelter, and some years the foliage has good fall color, but this year wasn't it. Too dry and hot a summer for living with someone who doesn't do much supplemental watering.
I had gotten mine through a wholesale supplier when I worked at one nursery. When I called Forestfarm to place an order, they had never heard of it, so I was quite pleased to see it offered in their catalog the following year. I see that they have it in larger sizes this year than it was initially offered in. BTW, Forestfarm does an incredible packing job when they ship!!
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Lisa A
Posted: Nov-13-2003 at 8:50am
Thanks, Kellie! Dancing Oaks carries it in 1 gal with, of course, a fairly hefty price for 1 gal size plants. But it is a stunner and its narrow shape would work well in my side garden. I can buy from Stanley and Sons through a plant broker but unless I buy more plants, the broker fee really jacks up the plant price (ouch!). I haven't tried Forest Farm but I will. I was foolishly hoping for a larger plant because a 1 gal size will be out of view from my den window for a while but I'll just have to have patience and pray for it to grow quickly.
Ooooh, I've got a bunch more questions for you . . . How wide is your plant? Have you had any suckering problems? (Dancing Oaks tells me they are all grafted to vine maple roots). Stanley and Sons recommends part shade for the plant (my site is morning sun/afternoon shade) but it's good to know it will take more sun. What is its fall color? The usual orange/red color of vine maples? The backdrop of mine will be my neighbor's birches with gold fall color so I'm hoping it will be different enough not to blend together. Thanks!
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Gardening in Sunset Zone 6, USDA Zone 8.
Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul. - The Koran
KellieD
Posted: Nov-13-2003 at 9:09am
Lisa, when I first found 'Pacific Fire' it was going for $95 for a 1 gallon plant, so anything less than that is a bonus!
It is listed in Forestfarm catalog as a 5 gallon for $49, but isn't listed currently on their website. Sometimes companies will pull an item off the web if the quantities are low, so give them a call on the #800. Shipping is spendy, but if it isn't something you can get locally, go for it. My DH and I conteplated driving there, but for us it was cheaper to pay the shipping. You are much closer to them, so for you it might work. Greer Gardens has also carried it, so give them a call as well.
I have not had a suckering problem at all and have not had anything sprouting below the graft. It is very well branched and is great in every season. In a good year, the fall color is more peachy coral than orange red. I think it would look fantastic with a birch backdrop. Sounds like you have ideal conditions for it as well, but don't forget a good mulch!!
At its widest point mine is about 3 to 3 1/2 feet, but I expect as it ages it will broaden a bit more. Very much an upright shape without being too stiff. Too bad I don't have a digicam to send you a picture!
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Once a seed, now a tree.
DebbieTT
Posted: Nov-13-2003 at 10:22am
I echo the Forest Farm praise, they do pack their plants well and always quality plants.
How tall is yours now Kellie and is it redder than A. 'Coral Bark'? I am looking at mine right now and it is brilliant with the dark trees behind it and morning sun shining on it.
I am curious as to why they graft the roots?
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DebbieTT
Posted: Nov-13-2003 at 10:26am
Too bad I didn't know where you live Kellie as I am heading down to Port Orchard to pick up my 1/2 pig this morning. Farmer George's where are you? I could come by with my little digital camera and snap snap.
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Lisa A
Posted: Nov-13-2003 at 10:53am
Thanks, Kellie! I left a message for Forest Farm and we'll see what they say. I'd love a 5 gal one if possible but we'll see what the dollar cost will be. Maybe this will be my Santa present. "Look, honey, what you bought me!"
Debbie, A. c. 'Monroe', a finely cut vine maple is also grafted onto Vine Maple root stock. I suspect it is because the selected form isn't as strong a plant, root wise. Or perhaps it is to give them a market ready plant sooner. At least those are the reasons I've heard for grafting. I don't know if that is the case with these. It'd be interesting to find out.
Debbie, Kellie wrote above that her plant is 8' tall (it is buried in a post).
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Gardening in Sunset Zone 6, USDA Zone 8.
Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul. - The Koran
KellieD
Posted: Nov-13-2003 at 11:17am
Darn, Debbie, I'll bet you've already left!
Lisa, forgot to tell you that mine grew okay until its third year when it just took off!!! It must have put on three feet that year!
I love this plant, and it is my favorite out of all the trees I grow. The color of the bark is much more intense than I have ever seen the coral bark, almost as if it had a light on inside.
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Once a seed, now a tree.
Lisa A
Posted: Nov-13-2003 at 3:06pm
Bummer, Forest Farm is out of them. They said they sold out fast and won't have more until next fall.
So the search continues . . .
Thanks for the additional info, Kellie.
__________________
Gardening in Sunset Zone 6, USDA Zone 8.
Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul. - The Koran
DebbieTT
Posted: Nov-20-2003 at 10:37am
Have you found another source yet?
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Red Hare
Posted: Nov-20-2003 at 2:09pm
Where is Dancing Oaks? I'm hitting the big 5-0 next month and I can't think of a nicer gift for myself than a tree. (It's so nice to be in the company of people among whom I can say that I'd rather have a tree than jewelry, and they won't think I'm nuts - or at least, REALIZE that I'm nuts!)
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DebbieTT
Posted: Nov-20-2003 at 2:28pm
Dancing Oaks is down by Salem and out in the middle of nowhere. It is a cool drive though but how on earth they do retail business clear out there is unbelievable. But a whole group of us went so there must be other nuts like us out there.
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