The Dawes Arboretum

Common name: Rocky Mountain Glow® bigtooth maple

Family: Aceraceae (maple family)

Distribution: Species native to w. North America

Hardiness: USDA Zone 5

Life form: Deciduous tree

Comments: This is a J.Frank Schmidt selection. Rocky Mountain Glow® bigtooth maple grows 20-30 ft. tall and 15-30 ft. wide. It has a slow to medium growth rate and the canopy develops into a tight oval shape. This cultivar is grafted onto sugar maple rootstock. It resembles sugar maple, but the leaves and the overall tree habit are smaller. In spring and summer, the foliage is a rick dark green; in autumn, the leaves change to vibrant red, yellow, and orange, making the tree appear to be "glowing." On young trees, the branches are reddish, providing year-round interest to the landscape; mature bark is gray and develops long irregular fissures. Grows best in partial to full sun and in moderately moist soil. Tolerant of cold conditions. Can be used as a specimen tree or planted as a screen.