Little Gem Vine Maple                A-ser sir-SIN-in-a-tum

• Deciduous dwarf shrub, forms a dense mound, rarely exceeds 3.5 ft (1 m) in height.  Leaves opposite, simple, closely spaced, only about 1-4 cm wide, slightly red tinged in spring, green in summer, may develop orange and red colors in fall.
• Sun or deep shade.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 5      Mr. Alleyne Cook collected scions from a witch's broom on an otherwise normal Acer circinatum in Stanley Park, Vancouver, B.C.  He sent the scions to J. D. Vertrees, in Roseburg, Oregon, for propagation and evaluation purposes.  Three of those scions took, and the best form was eventually named 'Little Gem', as apparently per Mr. Cook's request.  It was introduced to commerce in about 1970.
• Portland, Oregon: Hoyt Arboretum