Acer macrophyllum
Big-leaf maple
(c) Rand Workman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Sapindaceae · Type: Tree · Native
Acer macrophyllum (Big-leaf maple) is a native California tree in the Sapindaceae family, recognized by very large leaves and tree size.
Big-leaf maple is a California native tree found in California Floristic Province (excluding the Great Valley) along streambanks and canyons at elevations below 1,500 meters. Flowering from March to June, this tree produces small greenish-yellow flowers in pendent racemes that emerge after the leaves. Growing to heights of 30 meters with a spreading, multi-stemmed form, it develops a robust trunk and broad canopy. Its distinctive leaves are large, measuring 8 to 15 centimeters long and 10 to 25 centimeters wide, with 5 deeply-lobed segments that have additional rounded secondary lobes, appearing green and softly pubescent underneath. The tree's fruit develops distinctive winged seed pods that spread at dramatic 50 to 90 degree angles.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 6 sympatric species; distinguished by very large leaves and tree size
Habitat and range
Habitat: Common. Streambanks, canyons
Elevation: < 1500 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Kern, San Diego, San Bernardino, Glenn, Tulare, Siskiyou, San Mateo, Plumas, Monterey, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Trinity, Riverside, Santa Cruz, Amador, Shasta, Lake, Napa, Orange, San Luis Obispo, Mendocino, Marin, Yolo, Alameda, Butte, Contra Costa, Santa Barbara, Del Norte, Placer, Ventura, Tehama, Lassen, Colusa, Solano, Humboldt, Mariposa, El Dorado, Nevada, Calaveras, Fresno, Tuolumne, Sierra, San Francisco
Outside California: to Alaska
Bloom period
Acer macrophyllum blooms Mar-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Platanus: Maple fruits are paired helicopters; sycamore has hanging ball-like seed clusters and peeling bark.; vs Liquidambar: Maple fruits split into two wings; sweetgum has spiky round seed balls and star-shaped leaves with pointed lobes.; vs Quercus: Maple leaves have palmate veins radiating from base; oak leaves have pinnate veins branching from midrib.; vs Fraxinus: Maples have simple lobed leaves; ash has compound leaves with 5-9 separate leaflets arranged feather-like.; vs Morus: Maple fruits are dry winged samaras; mulberry produces fleshy blackberry-like fruits and has milky sap.
Frequently asked questions
Is Acer macrophyllum native to California?
Yes. Acer macrophyllum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Acer macrophyllum bloom?
Acer macrophyllum blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Acer macrophyllum grow?
Acer macrophyllum occurs in Los Angeles, Kern, San Diego, San Bernardino, Glenn, Tulare, Siskiyou, San Mateo and other counties, at elevations of < 1500 m.
What plant family does Acer macrophyllum belong to?
Acer macrophyllum is in the Sapindaceae family, genus Acer.
What habitat does Acer macrophyllum grow in?
Acer macrophyllum grows in Common. Streambanks, canyons.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.