Vine Maple

I love Vine Maple trees. Most people chose the Japanese Maple or Big Leaf Maple for the landscaping around their homes.

But I never see the Vine Maple in an urban setting. They seem to thrive only in the wild in a forest.

I have seen Vine Maple trees in the many different forests I've hiked in, primarily in Oregon and Washington. Vine Maples are sturdy despite their delicate appearance.

Wherever you find forests filled with towering Douglas and Grand fir trees, you will also find the Vine Maple.

If you are unfamiliar with Douglas firs and Grand firs, they are found in the Pacific Northwest. (Many people mistakenly call them pine trees. They grow rather tall and, if left alone, can live thousands of years.)

The vine maple and fir trees live together harmoniously in forests along with the other flowers and shrubs found in a Pacific forest. The vine maple fills those open spaces under the fir canopy. Even at their full height, they are dwarfed by the fir trees.

I recently read that forests containing Vine Maple trees were healthier than those forests containing no Vine Maple trees.