Highland Park® Bigtooth Maple

Highland Park® maple (*Acer grandidentatum* × *Acer saccharum* ‘Hipzam’) is a mid-sized, upright pyramidal hybrid with glossy, thick foliage and bright red autumn color. At about **35 feet tall and 22 feet wide**, it can anchor a lawn or provide shade where sugar maple’s larger size or lower heat resistance is a concern. ## Form and seasonal interest J. Frank Schmidt describes the tree as an apparent bigtooth maple–sugar maple hybrid. Its tight pyramidal form and dark green, leathery leaves give it a more formal outline than many bigtooth maples; the foliage turns bright red in fall. Small yellow-green flowers appear in spring but are not ornamentally important, and winged samaras follow. Use it as a specimen or lawn shade tree where its eventual canopy will not conflict with buildings, overhead wires, or a narrow planting strip. [Purdue’s arboretum profile](https://www.arboretum.purdue.edu/explorer/plants/21463/) also describes the upright habit, spring flowers, and orange-red fall color. ## Growing conditions The breeder lists **USDA Zone 4** and says Highland Park grows larger and faster than typical bigtooth maple while remaining smaller and more heat-resistant than sugar maple. Full sun to partial shade is suitable. Purdue reports that it prefers well-drained loam or sandy soil, tolerates clay, and grows across a broad pH range. Water new trees consistently while roots establish; the breeder does not publish a specific water-use rating, so adjust later irrigation to climate, drainage, and soil moisture rather than assuming the drought claims found in some retail listings apply everywhere. The relative heat advantage is documented; salt tolerance and a specific drought threshold are not. ## Breeder, brand, and patent J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. sells the selection under the Highland Park® trade name; ‘Hipzam’ is the cultivar denomination in the breeder’s profile. See the [JFS cultivar page](https://jfschmidt.com/all-trees/highland-park-maple/) and its [maple introduction listing](https://jfschmidt.com/trees/all-trees/2/). The breeder page gives no plant-patent number, and I did not find a verifiable patent record for ‘Hipzam’ during this review. ## Maintenance Allow adequate room for the canopy and water through establishment. Prune selectively to develop strong branch structure and remove dead or crossing limbs; a naturally pyramidal tree should not need repeated shearing. Check the soil before watering established trees, especially in compacted or poorly drained sites.