The red maple leaf is an icon best represented by its presence on the Canadian flag. As its name suggests, the big tooth maple is most easily identified by its distinctive 3- to 5-lobed toothed leaves, often 3, 4 and 5 lobed leaves are found within the same tree. The fall foliage of the big tooth maple, shown above, becomes a brilliant red and gold.
The distribution of Acer grandidentatum is primarily spread throughout the corridor of the Rocky Mountains. Within this corridor you will most likely find this tree in the valleys, canyons and banks of mountain streams in elevations from 4,000-8,000 feet. In Utah, it often co-dominates with Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) and at higher altitudes it grows alongside various fir species.
Depending on its location and growing conditions, this deciduous shade tree can grow 40-50 feet tall with a diameter of 20-30 feet. Acer grandidentatum has a common name of lime rock maple because it grows best in a limestone based clay soil, but will grow in almost any type of soil.
Fruit (left) is produced every few years in the form of a two-winged samara, which is wind-dispersed during the fall and early winter. The flowers of the big tooth maple are male and female, green in color and dangle (shown above). Big tooth maple reproduces both sexually and vegetatively.
The seeds, bark, and sap of the big tooth maple are edible. As a member of the ‘maple’ family you can make syrup using the sap, but the yield is not very great. Its sister Acer saccharum is best for making maple syrup.