Samaras on the Bigtooth Maple at Pease Park
In spring 2023 I led a Tree Identification walk at Pease Park, and I am delighted to repeat that activity coming up on September 9, 2023. As an ISA Certified Arborist at ATXgardens.com, I am a tree enthusiast, to say the least. When Luis from Pease Park Conservancy gave me a tour of the park I was surprised to find some rare tree specimens planted as part of the recent restoration.
The area near the “TreeHouse” is home to a Bigtooth Maple, Acer grandidentatum, one of only two native maple species in Austin (the other is Box Elder, Acer negundo, a sorely underrated tree). Maples have samaras, the most fun fruits of all trees. The seed is held in a capsule with a wing, and when they fall from the tree they spin like a helicopter. The kernel inside the capsule is edible. Typically they grow near streams and rivers and they are most at home with high canyon walls surrounding them. But I have found a few very beautiful Bigtooth Maples growing in home landscapes around Austin, and they seem to do particularly well in narrow spaces with afternoon shade. They are slow growing to become medium-sized trees at maturity but worth the wait. Bigtooth Maples are easily identified by their opposite leaf arrangement, samaras, and leaves that resemble the leaf on the flag of Canada. 🇨🇦 Made famous by Lost Maples State Natural Area, these maples can be tapped to make syrup and they have unrivaled fall color.
Bigtooth Maple Leaves at Pease Park
If Austinites planted a greater diversity of native trees we would have a better color show each fall. Due to livestock overgrazing, severe deer pressure and lack of availability at nurseries, many climate resilient, native tree species with landscape value (including fall color) are rare.
Bigtooth Maple next to the “TreeHouse” at Pease Park
That’s why TreeFolks and Central Texas Seed Savers have partnered to create the Seed To Tree Pipeline. TreeFolks is the leading local tree planting organization and they cannot find enough trees in the marketplace to meet the needs of their planting programs. They asked my organization, Central Texas Seed Savers, to recruit and train volunteers to collect seeds to send to TreeFolks. TreeFolks will grow their own trees in their nursery and also plant seeds directly into the ground at their planting sites. If you attend our Tree ID classes you will be equipped to collect seeds. You will be empowered to prevent extinction of our special Texas tree species.
I hope you will join me for the Tree ID Walk at Pease.
Other unusual trees found at Pease Park that also offer fall color:
Rusty Blackhaw Vibirnum
Roughleaf Dogwood
Flameleaf Sumac
Peach