Bigleaf Maple
Acer macrophyllum
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- Acer macrophyllum
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- More than 40 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun, Part Shade, Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- apr, may
- Bloom Colors:
- Yellow, Green, Brown
Native Range
United States: California, Oregon, Washington, Canada: British Columbia
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acerra normalis, American Swordgrass Moth (Xylena nupera), Annaphila arvalis, Bruce spanworm (Operophtera bruceata), Copper Underwing (Amphipyra pyramidoides), Fishia evelina, Io moth (Automeris io), Linden looper (Erannis tiliaria), maple twig borer (Proteoteras aesculana), Neoalcis californiaria, Pale Oligocentria (Oligocentria pallida), Peppered Moth (Biston betularia), Pseudorthodes irrorata, Red-washed Prominent (Oligocentria semirufescens), Spiramater lutra, Spotted Tussock Moth (Lophocampa maculata), Synaxis jubararia, western winter moth (Operophtera occidentalis), White-dotted Prominent (Nadata gibbosa), Xanthorhoe defensaria
Reported Fauna Sightings
Butterflies:Echo Azure (Celastrina echo), Echo Azure (Celastrina echo), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Gray Hairstreak (Strymon melinus), Margined White (Pieris marginalis), Margined White (Pieris marginalis), Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta), Mylitta Crescent (Phyciodes mylitta), Satyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus), Satyr Comma (Polygonia satyrus)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers deep, fertile soils in forested areas
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Seeds are soaked for 48 hours in water, then placed in open trays or plastic ziplock bags with moist perlite and stored in stratification rooms or refrigerator for 2 to 4 months. If the seed is dry, it is placed into cold running water for 48 hours prior to stratification.
Establishment: Seeds are collected between October 1st and December 1st. Samaras are brown at maturity. Seeds are collected from trees using a long pole pruner. Seeds can also be collected from the ground as a last resort. A. macrophyllum is found from Alaska to California, mostly west of the Cascade mountains. It is also found in west central Idaho.
Source: npn.rngr.net