Acer grandidentatum
bigtooth maple
Western United States and northern Mexico
Overview
Acer grandidentatum, bigtooth maple, is a small deciduous tree of canyons and foothills in the interior western United States, usually growing 20–40 feet (6–12 m) tall, sometimes multi-trunked and shrubby on dry sites. It is closely related to the eastern sugar maple and carries similar three- to five-lobed leaves 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) wide, with large rounded teeth that give the tree its name. The leaves are dark green in summer and turn yellow, orange, and red in fall, often coloring strongly even in dry climates. Small greenish-yellow flowers open with the leaves in spring, followed by paired winged seeds, or samaras, about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. The tree grows slowly from a deep root system and tolerates drought, heat, and alkaline soil better than the eastern sugar maple. It forms thickets along streams and on north-facing slopes through the Rocky Mountains, Great Basin, and into Texas and Mexico. Its slow growth and modest size suit smaller spaces, though it is slow to establish after transplanting. The smooth gray bark roughens and furrows with age.
Native Range
Acer grandidentatum is native to the interior western United States and northern Mexico, from Idaho and Montana south through Utah and Arizona to western Texas, with scattered populations in Oklahoma and Coahuila. It grows in moist canyons, along streams, and on shaded slopes, often where water collects in otherwise dry country.Suggested Uses
Used as a small shade or street tree, a fall-color specimen, and in water-thrifty and native plantings in the interior West. It suits smaller yards and dry climates where larger maples struggle, though its slow growth calls for patience.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height20' - 40'
Width/Spread20' - 30'
Bloom Information
Small greenish-yellow flowers open in spring, in April and May, as the new leaves expand. They hang in small clusters and are wind- and insect-pollinated. Paired winged seeds ripen through summer and fall.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Green, turning yellow, orange, and red in fallGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight