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Acer grandidentatum
Common Name Bigtooth Maple
Family Aceraceae (Maple Family)

Description

This small tree grows to about 8 meters. The leaves are characteristically lobed in "bigtooth fashion", with 3-5 serrated lobes each (resembling teeth).

Range

This plant is an integral player in the mountainbrush communities. It occurs north into Alaska and south into Mexico. Elevation: 5,000-8,000 feet.

Culture

Prefers moist, nutrient-rich soils. Can tolerate most types of soils as long as they are well-drained. Zones 3 - 8.

Value

Attractive, reasonably drought tolerant, small sized maple that is actually the western version of sugar maple (it can be used for sugar production) that rapidly becomes round-headed at an early age. Biggest landscape asset is fall color, but varies widely among plants. The one cultivar, Rocky Mountain Glow, has several problems, including a standard sugar maple rootstock that increases the potential for iron deficiency, and poor branch structure and non-existent fall color. No compelling reason for its existence.

Propagation

Can be propagated from seeds or grafting. Is also readily obtained from any local nursery. To start seed indoors use fresh seed in which the sumara has dried but the seed pod is still greenish. Warm treat 15 to 30 days followed by a cold treatment for 30 to 90 days. Seed will begin to germinate in the bag. Sow into container and cover to depth. To sow outdoors sprinkle a generous amount of seed in the desired location and cover with ¼" soil and mulch with a light layer of leaves or bark. Sow seed in the fall. Hand collected seed should be opened to check for viability as many fall prey to weevils.