Rocky Mountain Maple (Acer glabrum) is a perennial deciduous shrub or small tree native to Western US states (such as Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Utah, and Washington) that can thrive in USDA Zones 3–7. Reaching a mature height of 10–20 feet with a multi-stemmed, upright arching growth habit, it features 3–5 lobed dark green leaves that turn brilliant yellow-red in fall and produces small greenish flowers followed by winged samaras. It thrives in rocky mountain canyon slopes, stream banks, and forest understories in full sun to partial shade and is ideal for montane slope stabilization, stream bank protection, and big game browse.
Small deciduous tree, 5 to 25 ft. tall, often forming large thickets on mountain slopes and along streams from 4,500 to 10,000 feet elevation. Poor palatability to livestock but important to wildlife for both cover and forage.