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Marcus, Joseph A. (Austin, TX)

Acer grandidentatum Nutt.

Big-toothed maple, Bigtooth 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
Size Class: 36-72 ft.
Leaf Venation: Palmately Veined
Leaf Pubescence: Puberulent
Leaf Margin: Dentate , Lobed
Leaf Apex: Obtuse
Leaf Base: Cordate
Breeding System: Dioecious
Fruit Type: Samara
Size Notes: 20-45
Leaf Color: Dk green above, pale under with some fuzz.
Autumn Foliage: yes
Flower Size: insignificant
Sepals: calyx persistent under the fruit
Petals: corolla absent
Pistil: ovary 2-celled pair of ovules in each cell
Fruit Length: 25 mm
Fruit Color: green

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 , NV , NM , 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.
Texas comments: Big Toothed Maple is a shrubby or somewhat tree-like maple. Its bark is dark brown and scaly and its branches are stout and erect. The thickish, three- to five-lobed deciduous leaves turn bright red and gold in the fall.

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
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PlantWise: Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants

Acer grandidentatum (Bigtooth maple) is a PlantWise native alternative for:

   Pistacia chinensis (Chinese pistache)
   Triadica sebifera (Chinese tallow)

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Question: We recently added a deck in our backyard which faces west, we live in Circle C (southwest Austin). The afternoon sun is intense so we're looking to plant something along our fence line to provide shade and privacy. We want something quick growing that will grow tall (20 or so feet) but not wide, since we don't want it to take up valuable yard space, maybe a tree? Also, can you recommend a flowering vine that can grow from the ground and climb to cover our brick patio columns. I'd love something fragrant, but nothing poisonous or that would attract bees.
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: 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, compatible with cedar and wildlife friendly? Also we want a good shade tree for our front.
click here to view the full question and answer

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
* Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
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: 2007-08-10
Research By: NPC, JSC

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