Friends of Belfast Botanic Gardens

Tree of the month series - this series of short articles about trees in the Belfast Botanic Gardens is compiled by members of the Friends group and Gardens staff. We aim to build up to a comprehensive archive of trees in Belfast Botanic Gardens. Each article will illustrate a tree growing in Belfast Botanic Gardens together with information from a range of sources. Where possible we will give the tree tag number - these are the little aluminium discs, usually fixed 2 to 3m high on the tree trunk Click here to view the tree archive

Jon Pilcher

This small-leaved maple is a native of the Mediterranean area from Portugal to Turkey, SW Asia, and N. Africa. It is fairly rare in cultivation particularly in the north of the British Isles. There is a mature specimen in the Arnold Arboretum in Boston. Although not much grown in gardens it is popular with bonsai enthusiasts because of its small leaves. It is superficially like our native field maple (Acer campestre) in its small leaves and growth habit.However, the leaves are distinctly shiny, three-lobed (without teeth) unlike those of the field maple which are matt and can be 5 lobed. When the leaves are broken the sap is colourless whereas that of Acer campestre leaves is milky.The flowers of the Montpellier maple are a bright yellow and in a good year can rival those of Acer opalus which grows nearby in Belfast Botanic Gardens. The seeds are a typical maple double winged structure (a samara); in this case the wings are close together. Although a plant of hot dry Mediterranean hills it appears to be completely hardy in Ireland having survived the recent two severe winters 2009/10 and 2010/11. There are two trees, close together, in Belfast Botanic Gardens beside the path from the Botanic Gate to the primary school gate.

Acer monspessulanum in Belfast Botanic Gardens in April	Acer monspessulanum in May
Acer monspessulanum flowers	Typical glossy leaves of Acer monspessulanum
Acer monspessulanum samara	Acer monspessulanum bark

Photos taken in 2011 in Belfast Botanic Gardens. Copyright Jon Pilcher