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Native Plant Database

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Acer grandidentatum (Bigtooth maple)
Wasowski, Sally and Andy

Acer grandidentatum Nutt.

Bigtooth maple, Big-toothed maple, Canyon maple

Aceraceae (Maple Family)

Synonyms: Acer grandidentatum var. grandidentatum, Acer saccharum var. grandidentatum

USDA Symbol: ACGR3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A shrubby or somewhat tree-like maple, this species usually matures at 10-15 ft. but is sometimes taller. Its bark is dark brown and scaly and is branches are stout and erect. The thickish, three- to five-lobed deciduous leaves turn bright red and gold in the fall. Small to medium-sized tree with short trunk and spreading, rounded, dense crown; often a shrub. The scientific name, meaning large-toothed, refers to the leaves.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub , Tree
Root Type: Fibrous
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Opposite
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Palmate
Leaf Pubescence: Puberulent
Leaf Margin: Dentate , Lobed
Leaf Apex: Obtuse
Leaf Base: Cordate
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Dioecious
Size Notes: 20-45
Leaf: Dk green above, pale under with some fuzz.
Autumn Foliage: yes
Flower: Flowers insignificant
Fruit: Green, 25 mm
Size Class: 36-72 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr
Bloom Notes: Flowers are small, in hanging clusters, appearing with the leaves.

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , ID , MT , NM , NV , TX , UT , WA , WY
Native Distribution: SE. Idaho south to Arizona and east to S. New Mexico and Trans-Pecos Texas; local in Edwards Plateau of S. central Texas, SW. Oklahoma, and N. Mexico; at 4000-7000 (1219-2134 m); locally to 1500 (457 m).
Native Habitat: Moist soils of canyons in mountains and plateaus; in woodlands.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: None
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Moist soils, Limestone-based, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Calcareous
Conditions Comments: Propagation mostly by seed. Great fall color.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: The showy autumn foliage makes it suitable as an ornamental.
Use Food: The western relative of Sugar Maple, Canyon Maple has sweetish sap used locally to prepare maple sugar.
Use Other: The wood provides good fuel.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Deer Resistant: High

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Plants for wildlife and trees for shade.
September 29, 2007
We live in Kempner Texas, our land has mostly cedar trees. We would like to make a wildlife habitat on the back side of our property. Can you recommend plants that will grow in shade to partial sun,...
view the full question and answer

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Hill Country Natives - Leander, TX

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Fredericksburg Chapter - Fredericksburg, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 355 - Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Acer grandidentatum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Acer grandidentatum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Acer grandidentatum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2013-03-25
Research By: NPC, JSC

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