Bigtooth Maples

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About Bigtooth Maples

Bigtooth maples are a close cousin to Sugar Maples, but they're smaller--about 40 or 45 feet tall. They're strewn from about where I live--Boerne, Texas--west and far north up into Idaho. They tend to like the sides of canyons where they can get a toe-hold in rocky soil, but not stay wet.
They're tough little buggers, taking the western heat and occasional drought, but still thriving.
You may have heard of Lost Maples State Park just north of Vanderpool. At Lost Maples they've removed the maples' main predator---deer--and made high fences to keep them out. There they've been able to grow and thrive without their nemesis, who treat the seedlings' leaves like a salad bar.
At any rate, here in Boerne we're trying to re-introduce Bigtooth Maples to the city by planting about a 100 of theme every year. Volunteers commit to two years of watering and watching over their bigtooth maple, after which time the maple should be established enough to make it on its own.
To protect them from deer, they're encircled by a wire cage 'til they're big enough for the leaves to be out of deer reach. I take care of six of them on the end of the Old #9 Hike and Bike Path. Dozens of others around here take care of Maples at their own homes or elsewhere. It's a fabulous program.
If you have pictures of Bigtooth Maples, feel free to upload them to this Group. Enjoy.