Acer circinatum Sunny Sister

Acer circinatum 'Sunny Sister' is a vigorous vine maple cultivar with full moon-shaped leaves that emerge in spring displaying apricot, peach, and orange tones before transitioning to a bright lime-chartreuse yellow that persists through the growing season. The foliage exhibits a distinctive metallic sheen, particularly luminous in morning light. This multi-stemmed tree reaches 6-8 feet tall and 8-10 feet wide in ten years, making it notably more vigorous than its sister cultivar 'Sunglow'; it may also display slightly greater sun tolerance. According to the growers at Mr Maple, 'Sunny Sister' originated in the early 1990s when Talon Buchholz of Buchholz Nursery acquired two seedlings from Floyd McMullen's collection in Portland, Oregon, and introduced one as 'Sunny Sister' to the nursery trade. The tree thrives with morning sun and afternoon shade, well-draining soil, and benefits from pairing with blue conifers or red-leafed Japanese maples to enhance color contrast in the garden.