Big Leaf Maple vs Smooth Sumac - TreeTime.ca

Big Leaf Maple vs Smooth Sumac

Rhus glabra

Acer macrophyllum

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

CUSTOM GROW

Smooth Sumac
Big Leaf Maple

Smooth Sumac is an excellent shrub for both its ornamental appeal and tolerance of difficult planting sites. You'll love the attractive pyramidal spikes of hairy, red berries that emerge on female plants and the fern-like foliage that covers both male and female varieties.

Ensure you give Smooth Sumac enough space to spread out due to its high suckering nature. While not ideal for small, urban yards, this shrub will make a stunning border along a woodland edge or roadside.

Note:These plants typically reach maturity and make their sex easily known (females producing fruit) in their 3rd or 4th year of growth. Our seedlings are too young to identify their sex.

Big Leaf Maple has a broad, rounded crown and the largest leaves of all the maples. The pleasant shape and large leaves make this maple a striking and attractive tree. In autumn, the leaves turn vibrant shades of gold and orange.

Big Leaf Maple is a soil building species, meaning that it improves the soil conditions where it grows.

Smooth Sumac Quick Facts

Big Leaf Maple Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 5a
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Height: 15 m (50 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Spread: 15 m (50 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: high
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: long, thin
Foliage: very large in classic maple shape
Fall colour: scarlet red
Fall colour: yellow to gold
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: BC, SK, MB, ON
Native to: BC
Other Names: big-leaf maple, bigleaf maple, oregon maple