# Rocky Mountain maple (*Acer glabrum*) The Rocky Mountain maple is a small tree with beautiful leaves that change colors in the fall. It grows in the mountains and provides shade and food for many animals. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Rocky Mountain maple](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Acer_glabrum_4809.JPG&width=800) Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Acer_glabrum_4809.JPG) ## Appearance The Rocky Mountain maple is a small tree or multi-stemmed shrub with smooth, reddish-brown to gray bark. Its deeply lobed, bright green leaves resemble currant leaves and turn vibrant yellow, orange, or red in autumn. Small, yellowish-green flowers bloom before its distinctive paired 'helicopter' seeds appear. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Sapindaceae - **Genus:** Acer ## Interesting facts - High in the mountains, this tough maple often grows like a shrub, not a tall tree! - Its 'helicopter seeds' spin as they fall, letting them fly far from the parent tree! - Some Indigenous peoples used its strong wood to craft tools and bows. - Wild animals like deer and elk munch on its tasty twigs and leaves! ## Special abilities - **Whirlybird Seeds:** Rocky Mountain maple has winged seeds that spin like tiny helicopters to travel far in the wind. - **Altitude Adaptor:** This maple can thrive in high mountain elevations where many other tree species struggle to grow. - **Sunburn Shield:** Its smooth, thick bark helps protect the tree from harsh sun and temperature changes. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-900 cm - **Spread:** 200-600 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Mule Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mule-deer) (*Odocoileus hemionus*) — browses on young leaves and twigs - **Eaten by:** [Elk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/elk) (*Cervus canadensis*) — relies on its foliage during winter - **Eaten by:** [Abert's Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/aberts-squirrel) (*Sciurus aberti*) — cracks open its samara seeds for food ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [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. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [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. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful not to climb too high in trees, and always ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Rocky Mountain 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 Rocky Mountain maple? 300-900 cm ### How wide does Rocky Mountain maple spread? 200-600 cm ### How big are the flowers on Rocky Mountain maple? 0.5-1 cm ### When does Rocky Mountain maple bloom? Spring ### Is Rocky Mountain maple edible? No ### Is Rocky Mountain maple toxic? None ### What is Rocky Mountain maple's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [William Allen White Cabins](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/william-allen-white-cabins) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Bromley Rock Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bromley-rock-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park - [Georgetown-Silver Plume Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/georgetown-silver-plume-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District - [Headquarters Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/headquarters-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Kelly's Camp Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kellys-camp-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District - [Redstone Coke Oven Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/redstone-coke-oven-historic-district) — Colorado, US · Historic District [View all places to see Rocky Mountain maple](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/rocky-mountain-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: [Rocky Mountain maple: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rocky-mountain-maple)