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The History of Acer circinatum:

In 1803, avid plant lover President Thomas Jefferson commissioned a team of scientists and explorers to prospect out to Oregon Territory what is now known as part of the Louisiana Purchase. This team, led by the famous Lewis and Clark pioneered the west to lay legal claim to the land and were some of the first to see native plants and animals of the Pacific Northwest.

Around October 30th of 1805 navigating in canoes the Lewis and Clark Expedition stopped on the Columbia River near Skamania County in Washington. That day Lewis and Clark spotted a true beauty, acer circinatum. The small stature and compact growth of the this tree must have intrigued the expedition. The specimen below was collected on that day and Acer circinatum became a part of American history. Acer circinatum near Mt St. Helens

In 2009 we attended the post tour of the North American Maple Society meeting. Along this tour we spotted Acer circinatum growing in the wild as well as being used in the landscape. One of the most amazing sights on the post tour was seeing acer circinatum growing in the wild near Mount St. Helens. This amazing spectrum of reds, yellows and oranges were stunning to see hanging onto the sides of the rolling mountains. Being late in October, I imagine this sight was similar to what Lewis and Clark had spotted nearly 200 years ago.