COMMON NAME
Bigleaf maple
SCIENTIFIC NAME
Acer macrophyllum
Plant family
Soapberry (Sapindaceae)
Plant group
Deciduous Trees and Shrubs
Bigleaf maple trees are long-lived decidious trees typically between 20 and 75 feet tall native to the Pacific coast of North America.
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OBSERVERS
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OBSERVATIONS
Identification hints
Big-leaf maple trees can reach up to 150 ft in height but are usually smaller. The tree typically has a massive and squat trunk with branches that come out laterally then grow upward. The leaves are simple, opposite, large, dark green, and are deeply lobed. The leaf margins are usually undulating.
Did you know?
The inner bark of the bigleaf maple was used in many ways by Indigenous peoples including as a food source. Many animals rely on bigleaf maple for food and shelter. In fact, the barred owl prefers to nest in these large showy trees.
DISTRIBUTION IN TH U.S.
California
,
Oregon
,
Washington
HABITAT
Found along the Pacific coast, bigleaf maple tolerates a range of soil moisture and light conditions but prefers riparian areas and hardwood or mixed evergreen forests. The tree thrives in high altitudes below 5000 feet in elevation, in moist canyons and along waterways.
ATTRIBUTES
Leaves
Bigleaf maple has the largest leaves of any maple tree. The leaves are simple, opposite, shiny, dark green to bluish-green, with lighter green underneath. They are 6 to 12 in diameter and borne on long stem-like structures (petioles; 6 to 12 in in length) that attach them to the stem. The leaves are deeply lobed, and the margins are usually undulating or with shallow lobes. In the fall the leaves turn yellow to golden to reddish in color.
Flowers
Bigleaf maples produce hermaphroditic flowers in pendulous long clusters (racemes) that emerge in early spring before the leaves. The flowers are yellowish green in color and has inconspicuous petals.
Fruits
Bigleaf maple seeds are two winged “helicopters”, known as samaras. Each seed is about 1/2 inch long and the "wing" is up to 2 inches long. Plants typically begin fruiting for the first time when they are about 10 years old.
Bark
The bark of bigleaf maple is ranges from gray to red-tinged brown, and furrows with age.
Bloom Time
Bigleaf maple blooms between April and May.
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