As its species name suggests, this maple has impressively large leaves, and accordingly is also known as Bigleaf Maple. Introduced 1826.

Native to British Columbia in Canada, and in the USA to California, Oregon, and Washington. An occasional specimen in parks and large gardens.

Monoecious, hermaphrodite flowers. Insect-pollinated. Wind-dispersed.

Large (30m or more), forming a strong upright dome. Bark grey to red-brown, fissuring with age. Twigs purple-grey; buds red-green, opposite, enclosed in petiole bases. Leaves very large (30cm), flimsy, often wider than long, with five deeply, acutely pointed lobes narrowing at the base, margin-fringed with hairs, on a long (20-30cm) stout petiole that exudes milky sap when snapped. Flowers yellow-green, 30-80 in clusters before the leaves. Samara wings large (4cm), spreading 90 degrees or more, with bristly pubescent nutlets.