Big Leaf Maple is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 9. Its mid spring flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
5-9
pH Range
4-6.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
---
Score Big Leaf Maple on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether big leaf maple actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score big leaf maple against your land's real conditions.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your full report in seconds
What Big Leaf Maple is
Big Leaf Maple grows as a perennial and reaches around 60 feet at maturity. It blooms yellow in mid spring.
How to grow Big Leaf Maple
Big Leaf Maple grows in USDA zones 5 through 9. Big Leaf Maple does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4 to 6.5, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 210 frost-free days and about 800 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
5-9
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4 - 6.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
44.6°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
60 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
800+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
210+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set big leaf maple in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Big Leaf Maple prefers pH 4 to 6.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — big leaf maple isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Big Leaf Maple offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Big Leaf Maple thrives
Big Leaf Maple is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 9. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 5–9·Where Big Leaf Maple growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Big Leaf Maple can grow in these states:
See if Big Leaf Maple will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether big leaf maple actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Big Leaf Maple in my zone?
Big Leaf Maple grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 9 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Big Leaf Maple?
Set big leaf maple out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Big Leaf Maple need?
Big Leaf Maple needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Big Leaf Maple need?
Big Leaf Maple prefers soil pH 4 to 6.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Big Leaf Maple attract pollinators?
Yes — big leaf maple's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Big Leaf Maple safe for pets?
Big Leaf Maple is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.