Bigleaf maple is a massive, broad-crowned deciduous tree native to the Pacific Northwest, growing 40 to 75 feet tall and occasionally reaching 100 feet. Its deeply furrowed gray to reddish-brown bark and enormous palmate leaves make it one of North America's most impressive maples. Hardy in zones 6 to 7, it thrives in moist, well-drained soils and tolerates full sun to partial shade, though it prefers the cool summers of its native environment and doesn't perform well in hot, humid southeastern climates.
Partial Sun
Moderate
6-7
900in H x 900in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Bigleaf maple earns its name honestly: its leaves are the largest of any North American maple, creating a dramatic visual presence in the landscape. The tree grows into a broad-rounded crown that provides substantial shade, with mature specimens developing the deeply furrowed bark character that comes only with age. Native from British Columbia to southern California, it's adapted to moist forest environments and can reach 100 feet tall in ideal conditions, making it the most massive of all North American maples.
Bigleaf maple serves as an outstanding shade tree, its broad crown and massive stature providing substantial canopy coverage for residential and landscape settings. Its native range and striking architectural form make it valued in Pacific Northwest gardens and restoration plantings.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
No care instructions available yet for this variety.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Bigleaf maple is native to moist to dry sites stretching from British Columbia to southern California, where it evolved in the cool, moisture-rich conditions of Pacific Northwest forests. The species represents a natural adaptation to the region's climate and soil conditions, and its presence across such a wide geographic range reflects centuries of natural selection in diverse microhabitats.”