Montpellier Maple                A-ser mon-spes-ew-LAH-num

• Broadleaf deciduous tree, compact, to 20-30 ft (6-10 m) high, dense branching, rounded crown.   Leaves opposite, simple, blade 3-lobed, 3-6 cm long, base cordate, margin entire; petiole 3-5 cm long; may have red-orange fall color.  Flowers yellow-green on long (4 cm) stalks (peduncles), appear before leaves.   Fruit 1.5 cm long, sometimes reddish, wings hang down parallel or are crossed.
• Sun to part shade, tolerates heat.
• Hardy to USDA Zone 5    Native to Mediterranean area and southern and central Europe.
• Resembles Acer campestre, Hedge Maple, but its leaves always have three lobes, its fruit hang parallel, and its petiole does not yield a milky sap when cut.
• monspessulanum: from Montpellier, France.