Acer grandidentatum (ay’-sir grand-eye’-den-tae’-tum)
Family: Sapindaceae, Soapberry

Key Steps

• 1a – Opposite leaf arrangement on stem — go to 2
  • 2a – Leaf simple — go to 3
    • 3a – Leaves are lobed — go to 4
      • 4b – No milky sap — go to 5
        • 5a – Margins of lobes are smooth — go to 6
          • 6a – Lobes have blunt tips. Leaf is up to 3 inches wide, shiny above and hairy beneath. Irregular canopy — Big Tooth Maple

Description

Leaf: 3-5 lobes, tips are blunt; dark green, shiny above, hairy beneath. Good fall color. Thick petiole.

Bud: Pointed, 1/16 inch long, red/brown. Outer scales hairy.

Leaf Scar: Narrow, almost meeting across the stem. Bands of long hair near the leaf scar.

Stem: Slender, bright red.

Bark: Dark brown, plate-like scales.

Fruit: Samara is rosy red in summer, green at maturity.

Habit: Irregular canopy. 20 feet tall by 15 feet spread. Native to moist streambed areas and canyon slopes. Slow growing. May occur as multi-stemmed shrubs in thickets.

Culture: Low moisture requirement once established.

Resources

• Identifying Broadleaf Flowering Trees and Shrubs, CMG GardenNotes #173
• List of trees in this key
• Glossary of Terms
• Front Range Tree Recommendation List
• Online CSU Extension publications on Tree and Shrub Selection