Carried by 36 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) is a fast-growing deciduous tree native to the Pacific Coast and parts of inland California. It provides dense summer shade and brilliant fall color in colder regions. Its signature feature is its massive, lobed leaves, which can grow nearly two feet across.
This tree thrives with moisture and adapts to various soils, though it prefers good drainage. While it can grow too large for small gardens, it is well-suited to natural landscapes. Pruning should be done in winter.
Bigleaf maple supports wildlife by providing food for birds, small mammals, and mule deer, while its leaves sustain numerous insects.
Tree
30 - 115 ft Tall
65 ft Wide
Upright, Rounded, Upright Columnar
Fast
Winter Deciduous
Yellow, Pink
Spring, Winter
Deer resistant
Full Sun, Partial Shade
Moderate, High
Keep moist
Moderate
Tolerates cold to 5° F
Fast, Medium, Slow
Prefers clay or loamy soil, tolerates sandy soil.
Tolerates serpentine soil..
Soil PH: 5.5 - 7.5
For propagating by seed: 1.5-2 mos. stratification; use fresh seeds.
1, 2, 3, 4*, 5*, 6*, 7*, 8, 9, 14*, 15*, 16*, 17*, 18*, 19*, 20*, 21*, 22*, 23*, 24*
Streambanks and canyons where it will receive abundant moisture. Adjacent to chaparral, grassland, woodland or pine forest
Chaparral, Douglas-Fir Forest, Foothill Woodland, Mixed Evergreen Forest, Red Fir Forest, Redwood Forest, Valley Grassland, Wetland-Riparian, Yellow Pine Forest
Other large trees: Western Sycamore (Platanus racemosa), White Alder (Alnus rhombifolia), Cottonwood (Populus spp.), Bay Laurel (Umbellularia californica) Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa), and Red Fir (Abies magnifica)
Butterflies and moths supported
2 confirmed and 85 likely
Maple Seed Caterpillar
Proteoteras aesculana
Climbing Cutworm
Abagrotis orbis
Reed's Dart Moth
Abagrotis reedi