Scientific Name:
Acer macrophyllum
Pronunciation:
AY-sur mack-roe-FILL-um
Common Name:
bigleaf maple
Family Name:
Sapindaceae
Plant Type:
Tree - deciduous
Key ID Features:
Habit is low branching; leaves opposite, largest of all maples, most blades reniform-suborbicular, most 12-25cm long x 15-30cm wide, mid-green, palmate with 5 lobes (3 major lobes), petioles with milky sap, 15-25cm long; racemes pendulous, 6-12cm long with many yellow florets about 1cm wide; samaras V- or tripod-shaped, thick edge of wings at 40-50 degree angle, about 4-6cm long, pubescent. Winter ID: buds 6-9mm long, green, opposite; large, scale margin with short hairs, bark often covered with moss.
Habit:
Open
Form:
Oval - horizontal, Round
Texture:
Very coarse
Mature Height:
22 - 30m
Mature Spread:
15 - 25m
Growth Rate:
Moderate
Origin:
B.C. west of Cascades, U.S. - northwest (Naturalized In BC)
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 6: (-23 to -18 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun
Soil/Growing Medium:
Acidic, Humus rich, Well-drained
Water Use:
Moderate
Landscape Uses:
Shade tree
Additional Info:
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple, Lobed
Arrangement:
Opposite
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible, Palmate venation
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Colour in Fall:
Yellow, Orange
Shapes:
Orbicular, Reniform
Apices:
Acuminate, Acute
Bases:
Hastate
Margins:
Dentate
Inflorescence Type:
Raceme
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
5
Corolla Shape:
Campanulate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Yellow
Flower Scent:
Fragrant
Flower Time at Peak:
Apr, May
Fruit Type:
Samara, Schizocarp
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep, Oct
Additional Info:
Schizocarps split into 2-3 samara-like mericarps after dispersal
Bark Morphology:
Deeply fissured
Bark or Stem Colour:
Grey, Brown
Leaf Bud Type:
Ovoid
Leaf Scar Shape:
V-shaped
Propagation:
Seed
Pest Susceptibility:
Fungal leaf spot, Heart rot, Mildew (Pest resistant, Disease resistant)
Specific Pests:
Course(s):
- AARB 1012
- HORT 1155
- Level 3 Apprenticeship
Location(s):
- (FSC) Far South Campus
- (WDH) Wark-Dumais House : q3