# bigleaf maple (*Acer macrophyllum*) The bigleaf maple is a tall tree with huge leaves that can be as big as your head! It grows in forests and is known for its beautiful yellow and orange colors in the fall. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 15 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Western Maple ![bigleaf maple](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Acer_macrophyllum_1199.jpg&width=800) Photo: Angilbas at English Wikipedia, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acer_macrophyllum_1199.jpg) ## Appearance The bigleaf maple is a towering tree known for its enormous leaves, which can be over a foot wide and have five deeply cut lobes. In autumn, these vibrant leaves burst into brilliant shades of yellow and orange, creating a stunning display. Its bark is deeply furrowed, providing a textured appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Sapindaceae - **Genus:** Acer ## Interesting facts - It boasts the world's largest maple leaves, some even bigger than your head! - Its rough bark hosts mini-gardens of mosses and ferns right on its branches! - Its sweet sap can be tapped for delicious maple syrup, just like other maples! - These giants grow taller than a 15-story building, reaching high for the sky! ## Special abilities - **Giant Leaf Solar Panels:** Bigleaf maple has huge leaves that act like super-efficient solar panels, helping it capture lots of sunlight to grow big and strong. - **Epiphyte Haven:** This maple's rough bark and moist habitat let mosses and ferns grow on its branches, creating mini-ecosystems high in the tree. - **Sweet Sap Source:** The bigleaf maple produces sweet sap that can be harvested and boiled down to create delicious maple syrup. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1500-3000 cm - **Spread:** 1000-1800 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Western Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus griseus*) — eats the nutritious seeds - **Eats:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on young leaves and twigs - **Shelter:** [Pileated Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pileated-woodpecker) (*Dryocopus pileatus*) — nests in large tree cavities - **Depends on:** Artist's Conk (*Ganoderma applanatum*) — grows as a decomposer on logs ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay on paths when exploring forests and watch for falling branches. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify bigleaf maple? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is bigleaf maple? 1500-3000 cm ### How wide does bigleaf maple spread? 1000-1800 cm ### How big are the flowers on bigleaf maple? 0.5-1 cm ### When does bigleaf maple bloom? Spring ### Is bigleaf maple edible? Yes ### Is bigleaf maple toxic? None ### What is bigleaf maple's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Benbow Lake State Recreation Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/benbow-lake-state-recreation-area) — California, US · State Park - [Bloedel Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bloedel-reserve) — Washington, US · Botanical Garden - [Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cougar-mountain-regional-wildland-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Fairhaven](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fairhaven) — Washington, US · Neighborhood - [Hakone Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hakone-gardens) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [Marymoor Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/marymoor-park) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see bigleaf maple](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/bigleaf-maple) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Bigleaf Maple: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bigleaf-maple)