Acer monspessulanum - Montpellier maple

Montpellier maple • Català (Catalan): auró negre • Español: eihar frantsesa, arce de Montpellier, ázar • Française: érable de Montpellier • Italiano: acero minore • Português: zelha • Ελληνική (Greek): τρίλοβο σφενδάμι

Native to South & Central Europe, Northwest Africa, and Western Asia, on rocky, sunny sites with alkaline soils

Synonymy: Acer assyriacum Pojark. 1933; A. cinerascens Boiss. 1845; A. creticum Miller non L.; A. commutatum C. Presl 1822; A. hermoneum (Bornm.) Bornm. & Schweinf.; A. ibericum M. Bieb. ex Willd. 1806; A. illyricum Jacq.fil. 1827; A. monspessulanum ssp. glabrescens Schwerin 1893; A. obtusatum var. ibericum (Willd.) Loudon 1842; A. orientale L. 1759; A. persicum Pojark. 1933; A. trifolium Duham. 1755; A. trilobatum Lam. 1786; A. trilobum M�nch 1794 (nom. illeg.); A. turcomanicum Pojark. 1933; A. rectangulum Dulac (nom. illeg.)

This servicable maple deserves better marketing than it usually gets. perhaps not as graceful as the popular and ubiquitos Japanese maple cultivars and hybrids, the Montpellier maple is none-the-less a far better tree for mediterranean climates. Even in heavily watered gardens the leaves of its Japanese cousins tend to get a bit 'crispy' in the summer heat, but A. monspessulanum revels in the warm dry air, even prefering full sun under such conditions. Interestingly, the small, tri-lobed leaves of this species make it a new favorite of Japanese bonsai enthusiasts because they respond to the various foliage reduction techniques, becoming very tiny under such circumstances.

Distributed over a wide range, hence the numerous latin names, varieties and subspecies assigned to it at various times. Most botanists don't consider these distinctions to have standing, except perhaps for A. m. subsp. microphyllum (Boiss.) Bornmueller, which, as the name suggests, bears significantly smaller leaves.

In addition to being better adapted to dry conditions than most maples, this species also colors particularly well in fall, usually becoming bright yellow, orange, or red. After falling late in the year, the relatively small leaves do not pose problems (such as smothering smaller plants) and are useful to add to a permanent mulch. The samaras (maple fruits) are also often tinged rich red or pink, making a colorful display of their own.

This large shrub or small tree grows to 32-50ft / 10-15m. The smooth gray bark of young trees becomes finely fissured as the tree ages. Similar to A. campestre, which shares some of the same hardy features, but easily distinguished by its clear leaf sap (milky-white in A. campestre).

Acer monspessulanum may not be usually available in the trade in California probably because it has not been advertised enough (or not at all?). It seems in the USA the nursery trade is very trendy, and what is 'hot' are the latest new hybrids and cultivar selections, and the strait Genus species plants are usually forgotten. Ole' monspessulanum isn't a trademark or an award winning cultivar or a rare species in the wild, and that can be sometimes a problem if you want to sell maples.

This is something that has always surprised me: why a tree with nice flowers, good fall color, drought tolerant and with very pretty leaves doesn't get a fair advertising, even where it is native.

It is a very nice adition to any garden, not only in mediterranean climate areas but also down to [USDA] zone 6 areas. It seems here in Europe this is starting to change, and now a good number of nurseries offer it, from seedlings to trees with a girth of 10 in [25 cm]. I am sure that a new life is waiting for it in the USA too and will be eventually more available.

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