Acer grandidentatum.

Acer grandidentatum. Photograph by Cory Maylett.

A few days ago I began cold stratifying several Acer grandidentatum seeds. Commonly known as the Bigtooth Maple or Canyon Maple, Acer grandidentatum is closely related to the iconic Sugar Maple, Acer saccharum. Native to the interior western United States, the Bigtooth Maple is far better suited to our climate than many other maples. While not xeric, the Bigtooth Maple is reasonably tolerant of drought and, since it grows in limestone soils, is better suited to our typically alkaline soils. The leaves, though smaller than the impressive leaves of Acer macrophyllum (the Bigleaf Maple, a 50-70 foot monster of a tree native to the Pacific Northwest's boreal rain forests), are beautifully, deeply toothed. I've always liked maples, and I hope to include one or two of specimens of Acer grandidentatum in the garden, at least as space allows.

Acer grandidentatum leaves. Photograph by Cory Maylett.