Santa Fe Botanical Garden

Common name: bigtooth maple, palo de azúcar

Family: Sapindaceae (Soapberry)

Synonym: Acer grandidentatum

Distribution: Central and Western United States, Northern Mexico

Habitat: Canyons, conifer and oak forests

IUCN Red list: Least concern

Hardiness: USDA Zone 3 (-40 to -30 °F)

Life form: Deciduous tree

Occurrence in New Mexico: New Mexico native plant

Growing Conditions: The bigtooth maple occurs in scattered locations from Montana south through Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and west Texas to northern Mexico. It is most often seen growing in valleys, canyons, foothills, slopes, and mountain stream banks at elevations from 3,000-7,000 feet, but is also occasionally found growing in low desert areas. This drought tolerant tree is a good choice for xeric gardens. It may develop iron chlorosis if grown in alkaline soils.

Description: The bigtooth maple is a small to medium, spreading tree that reaches 15-20 feet tall and wide. Plant size is greatly influenced by moisture and climate. It grows as a shrub or small tree on dry sites, and as a taller tree on moist canyon floors or with irrigation. The leaves have 3-5 lobes and turn brilliant red-orange in autumn. The leaves are more deeply lobed than typically seen on sugar maple trees. It is a relatively short-lived tree (usually about 50 years but may live up to 150 years). It flowers in spring and is monoecious (has separate male and female flowers on the same tree). Winged seeds (samaras) are produced in summer.