Bigleaf maple bark is grey and deeply ridged. The diameter of the truck is between 36-48 inches (90 cm -120 cm). A survey of bigleaf maple seedlings in western Oregon showed that the tallest seedlings were 5 m (16.4 ft) tall and 20 to 30 years old. About Big Leaf Maple (Acer macrophyllum) 30 Nurseries Carry This Plant. A variety of birds and mammals may benefit from these distinct attributes of food and habitat. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 18:1226-1233. Acer stellatum Greene. Intermediate thinning (for pulpwood, firewood, PCT) may be needed to maintain diameter growth. Very large ( 3 to 6 ft tall) nursery seedlings may be produced in one year. h�|��j�0�_e.��XgJ�d)���n@��]�"Yݷ߱�&ch|5K��?1#��+P���U5F��o��+�Q��#Q㹮A�7� Good conditions for natural regeneration occur when overstory conifers are thinned out by natural self-thinning or silvicultural thinning. Growth Rate Fast Growing: Drought Tolerance Low: Wind Resistance Medium: About Bigleaf Maple Bigleaf Maple (a.k.a. Flooding for more than 2 months during the growing season will kill maples of all ages. Bigleaf maple is a native, long-lived medium to large sized deciduous tree that often grows to eighty feet tall. A low tolerance to cold and snow is indicated by the absence of maple at higher elevations and by its narrow coastal range. Bigleaf maple is second to red alder among native hardwood species in abundance and in commercial importance in the Pacific Northwest. Interactions with Wildlife Damage caused by deer and elk is probably the most important factor affecting the height and form of bigleaf maple seedlings and sprouts. 1984. Bigleaf maple can grow on relatively hot, dry areas, such as upland sites in southwestern Oregon. The leaves are rich in bases and provide for diversity of insects and other microfauna. The sapwood is reddish-white, sometimes with a grayish cast; the heartwood is light pinkish-brown. With careful color selection, the straight-grained wood can be stained to resemble cherry. Oregon State University, Forest Research Laboratory. It usually grows from near the Pacific Ocean to a maximum of 186 miles inland. Sprouts provide a reliable means of regeneration from existing trees. Bigleaf maple can continue to grow in diameter and respond to released growing space for at least 30 to 40 years. Individual maple stumps can produce up to 60 basal sprouts, and shoots can grow 2 m or more in height annually (Figure 1) (Lauterbach and Warren 1982; Cole and Newton 1990). Tree Characteristics. 1955. It is hardy to zone (UK) 6. Research Contribution 8. Maple is considered to be a soil-building species; leaves and litter contain relatively high concentrations of macro- and micro-nutrients. Ahrens, S. Willits, and D.E. Log grades developed by the Forest Service for eastern hardwoods and modified by Oregon State University appear to separate log values to the point that it may be worth grading logs for marketing. Seeds should be stored in airtight containers at 34°F. Yellow flowers grow in drooping 6 inch clusters in the spring before the emergence of bright green leaves. (560 to 6600 mm) annually, and from 2 to 46 in. It grows best on deep, well-drained soils with abundant moisture, conditions that occur most commonly on river terraces, flood plains, and seepage areas. About 18 percent of the total hardwood volume in the Pacific Northwest is bigleaf maple. endstream endobj 289 0 obj <>stream While it is not as strong as the eastern hard maples, it performs better in most tests than the soft maples. Where maple is most prolific, the climate is mild and humid, with moderate precipitation during the growing season. 3 Shop, and Frame. It can follow willow and alder in riparian succession. Uses Bigleaf maple is used for furniture, veneer, paneling, hardwood plywood, musical instruments, moulding, pallets, turnery, pulpwood, and firewood. There are also specialty markets for figured wood from bigleaf maple, although there are no standard grades. A rotation age of 40 to 50 years may be feasible in managed stands. Bigleaf maple is not as tolerant of poor drainage or flooding as other riparian species such as red alder, cottonwood, or ash. Maple is most abundant in the Puget Sound region of Washington and the Northwest region of Oregon. Broadleaf Maple or Oregon Maple) is sometimes thought of as the “Grande Dame” of all maple trees. It grows to be up to 35 meters tall, but more commonly 15-20 meters tall. The greenish-yellow flowers are pollinated by insects within 2 to 4 weeks after bud-burst. Oregon Forest Products Laboratory, State Board of Forestry and School of Forestry, Corvallis. Germination and establishment rates are best under partial shade. Moderate crowding is necessary to reduce branching and forking and induce self-pruning. Height: 30 - 75 feet. Herbaceous associates include maidenhair fern, western swordfern, ladyfern, red woodsorrel, false lily-of-the-valley, prince’s-pine, spreading sweetroot, and twinflower. Add to My Plant List; Acer macrophyllum (Bigleaf Maple or Oregon Maple) is a large deciduous tree. long. The greatest abundance of bigleaf maple is in the foothills of the Cascade and Coast ranges. Thinning and vegetation management may be needed to maintain adequate space for the growth of bigleaf maple. Management should target a spacing regime that produces optimal growth while maintaining the benefits of crowding in young stands or clumps. 207 29 If available other names are mentioned here, Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available. When properly seasoned, the wood is relatively stable and is not apt to split or surface check in use. Longevity Greater than 150 years. 1 Common or Better green lumber from bigleaf maple logs (80 percent and 58 percent for grade 1 and 2 logs, respectively) that is quite good compared to other hardwoods (Appendix 1, Table 2). Geographic Range Bigleaf maple is native to the Pacific Northwest at low to middle elevations from San Diego to Vancouver Island (lat 33 to 51°N). Report No. One mill study conducted with NHLA standard grades rather than modified red alder and maple grades found a percentage recovery of No. General: Maple Family (Aceraceae). FRIED, J.S., J.C. TAPPEINER II, and D.E. Associated Vegetation Bigleaf maple is commonly found in association with almost all other tree species in its range. �R��`�N�D��"�`.���"K$���@��%�6H#H#˳.9d �H�2h���\�l�pBk�6�� �0�@+��Ώ/�� Peterson. Machining Bigleaf maple wood retains many of the favorable machining (planning, shaping, boring, and turning) characteristics of the eastern hard maples, while allowing for greater production feed rates because of its lower density. Seeds are triangular or oval in shape and 0.16 to 0.47 in. R.M. Bigleaf maple provides an important broadleaved, deciduous component in the coniferous forests of the Northwest. The verticillium wilt (Verticillium albo-atrum) can be a serious problem for ornamental trees and it sometimes kills bigleaf maple in the forest. 2 Shop, No. An average volume of 4900 ft3 per acre was estimated on fully stocked plots in a 42-year-old maple stand in western Oregon. June 3, 2003. Root pathogens (Armillaria spp.) Acer macrophyllum (Bigleaf or Oregon Maple) is a large deciduous tree. 1988. Bigleaf maple will establish and grow on a wide variety of sites, including relatively harsh, dry areas in southwestern Oregon; however, growth and stem form may be poor. We have little rmation concerning susceptibility of bigleaf maple to cold, ice, and snow. Ecological Role Bigleaf maple increases in abundance during intermediate to late stages of succession. As with other fine-grain, hardwoods, surface scratching associated with sanding (swirls and cross-grain) can be a problem, although not to the same degree as with the hard maples. 0000001848 00000 n Long lived. It is big, beautiful, and an amazing shade provider. Skip to main content.us Hello, Sign in. If the outplanting site is known, parent trees should be selected from nearby locale that has conditions similar to the outplanting site. Seed should be collected from healthy, well-formed trees. in DBH (133 in. To maintain stem quality in plantations, seedlings may need to be protected from deer, planted in high densities, and correctively pruned. Yields of about 4500 ft3 per acre were estimated for 70-year-old stands of pure bigleaf maple in British Columbia. Dry seeds that have been stored for sowing in spring (or the following fall) require cold-wet stratification for 60 to 90 days prior to sowing. A red-leaved variety of bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum Pursh forma rubrum) has been found in northern California. Acer macrophyllum, the bigleaf maple or Oregon maple, is a large deciduous tree in the genus Acer . They have been selected to provide a mix of different plant sizes and growing conditions. The understory vegetation associated with maple can be quite different from that in adjacent conifer forests. Powderpost beetles (Ptilinus basalis) may rapidly infest dead trees or lumber that is improperly stored. and butt rots also attack older trees. It holds nails well and is not likely to split with nailing. See Appendix 1, Table 3, for average mechanical properties for small clear specimens. Seedlings and saplings are often clipped by mountain beaver. It is the only western maple that reaches commercial size, yet its potential as a commercial species has not been fully recognized.Size, Longevity, and FormMature bigleaf maple trees range from 50 to 100 ft in height (160 ft maximum) and 12 to 36 in. Grades can be applied to rough, surfaced, green, or dry lumber; in practice, lumber is usually dried and surfaced before grading. Account & Lists Account Returns & Orders. It originally comes from Western North America. Regeneration from Seed Most bigleaf trees produce seed every year, although the amount may vary greatly from year to year. Planted maple seedlings are susceptible to heat-girdling and sunscald on the lower stem, however. Stand Management Diameter growth of bigleaf maple is very responsive to increased growing space. It grows to 35 m tall, but more commonly 15 m to 20 m tall. Forest Products Journal 34(7/8):51-56. Xylella fastidiosa, a bacteria, is causing maple leaf scorch in northeast California (Woodruff 2011). A dense canopy of bigleaf maple will also suppress competing understory vegetation, reducing the need for other vegetation management treatments. %PDF-1.6 %���� Size and Shape of the Big Leaf Maple This tree can be anywhere from 20 feet to 100 feet tall and wide depending on the environment. The tree likes Sun to half-shade at the location and the soil should be all permeable soils, floodplains, tolerates soil lacking in … Best results for planning were obtained with hook angles of 20°. Like sugar maple, bigleaf maple has sweet sap that can be made into syrup. Seed Bigleaf maple seeds are borne in pubescent, double samaras with wings from 1.4 to 2 in. �^裦��#�����|KGb%E}VqT_3xM�P`�v�C���l�*��_q����a})h��2��R�&:\��.�w� �-P��"᥸�B�{�ӡ��Vo�;O.�?~;�{��bh��E��Pt�C�ٕ! The glue line can be visible when darker resins are used because of the wood’s light color. HIBBS. Adhesives There appear to be no reliable test results available that deal directly with the newer synthetic adhesives, but communication with local users indicates that bigleaf maple performs satisfactorily with good quality joints if conditions are well controlled. Control of competing vegetation should improve on the low rates of establishment and slow growth observed for maple in the presence of dense understory vegetation. Bigleaf maple seeds are typically sown in fall, soon after collection. �j��D���9Z��� 9�$O Bigleaf maple seedling establishment and early growth in Douglas-fir forests. 1990. Little or no site preparation is required with maple regenerating from stump sprouts. in DBH (133 in. The leaves are lobed and the flowers are yellow. Learn how Bigleaf can help you ensure resilient and reliable application performance, no matter where you are on your Cloud journey. Honkala, coords. G-4. Genetics In genetics research, the major interest is in cultivars for ornamental uses. The flowers appear before the leaves in early spring. Erect or Spreading and requires ample growing space. The radial shrinkage (green to ovendry) is 3.7 percent and the tangential shrinkage value is 7.1 percent. Because this species tends to establish in patches or clumps, it may be sensible to manage bigleaf maple in monospecific patches in mixture with other trees. Maple in the understory can quickly respond to release when openings are created in the overstory. The trunk diverges into numerous long, thick vertical limbs. To maintain moderate crowding, stands should not be opened too much initially. Flowers Inconspicuous. With even-aged mixtures or short (less than 10 years) delays in bigleaf maple establishment, maple sawtimber can be harvested at the same time as associated conifers. Bigleaf maple i… Another variety with triple samaras (Acer macrophyllum Pursh var. h��ZmO�0�+����/���F��iBC����6�N��� ��s�@7H),k�����l?ϝ/q Seeds germinate well on both mineral and organic substances. Although some forest nurseries are producing bigleaf maple on a trial basis, commercial supplies of maple seedlings are not consistently available. Maple is polygamous, bearing both male flowers and perfect flowers in one cylindrical raceme. To ensure a supply of maple seedlings, arrangements must first be made for collection of seed and for production of seedlings at a qualified nursery. Natural rates of establishment are low under dense shade or in clearcuts. Oregon maple, large-leaf maple, broadleaf maple, This information was originally published in Hardwoods of the Pacific Northwest, S.S. Niemiec, G.R. One study indicates a high sensitivity to toxic boron in the soil. Management of mixed stands is complex; stands may require periodic treatments to maintain the growth of diverse components. It frequently grows in clumps of 3-5, all originating from a single stump. Canadian Journal of Botany 62:2223-2228. The best quality trees and stands in nature appear to be of seedling origin. The average green MC is 72 percent (ovendry basis.). Insects and Diseases Young, undamaged trees are generally free of serious disease or decay. Try Prime Cart. It also has the capacity to grow rapidly and maintain dominance under favorable conditions in the open sun. WOLLIN, A.C., and J.R. PFEIFFER. As the name implies, the leaves of the Big Leaf Maple are, in fact, oversized. Open-grown trees have broad, rounded crowns on short, branching boles. Bigleaf's Cloud-first SD-WAN is the best way to ensure high availability and performance for all of your business' Cloud technologies. 288 0 obj <>stream This fast growth makes for a relatively soft wood though. What Does a Big-Leaf Maple Need to Survive?. BASTENDORFF, K.M., and A. POLENSEK. Timber Inventory Substantial volumes of bigleaf maple occur in every subregion of the Northwest (Appendix 1, Table 1). maximum). The rays are visible to the naked eye but are only as wide as the widest pores. I used a paired plot design to evaluate the influence of mature bigleaf maple on the growth and Within its range, precipitation varies from 22 to 260 in. USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center (NPDC). Lumber is graded with the special NHLA rules for bigleaf maple; grades include Selects and Better, No. The leaves are simple, opposite, and very large between fifteen to thirty centimeters wide and almost as long (Farrar 1995). Growth Rate: 36 Inches per Year. Acer Macrophyllum is a deciduous Tree growing to 30 m (98ft) by 12 m (39ft) at a fast rate. It grows to 35 m tall, but more commonly 15 m to 20 m tall. Elevation Bigleaf maple usually grows at low to middle elevations (near sea level to 3000 ft) in the central part of its range. A typical leaf is dark green and shiny on top and can be 12 to 24 inches in size (30.5 cm - … Characteristics The wood from bigleaf maple is fine-grained and of moderate weight and hardness. The suitability of prospective sites should be carefully evaluated before management of bigleaf maple on site is attempted. Growth rate: fast Special features: supports hummingbirds, wildlife favorite; With huge 8—12” leaves, the Bigleaf Maple is not easily confused with any other maple. Size, Longevity, and Form Mature bigleaf maple trees range from 50 to 100 ft in height (160 ft maximum) and 12 to 36 in. long. Good potential for growth of bigleaf maple on a site is indicated by the following: Climate Bigleaf maple is commonly found across a wide range of climates, from the cool, moist (temperate rain forest) conditions of the Olympic Peninsula to warm, dry (Mediterranean) conditions of southwestern Oregon. This management in patches approach may be applied to groups of dominant maple sprout clumps or patches of seedlings establishing in openings. Bigleaf maples grow very quickly when young, but slow their growth rate with age. This tree grows at a slow to medium rate, with height increases of anywhere from less than 12" to 24" per year. Bigleaf maple is suitable for most furniture design applications, and the lower grades perform well as pallet stock.

In their natural habitat, bigleaf maples are found most commonly in the forest or on forested slopes. USDA Forest Service, Washington D.C. Agriculture Handbook 654. FRIED, J.S., J.R. BOYLE, J.C. TAPPEINER II, and K. CROMACK Jr. 1990. Bigleaf maple is second to red alder among native hardwood species in abundance and in commercial importance in the Pacific Northwest. Bigleaf maple also supports abundant epiphytic growth on branches and boles in moist climates.

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