Description

Leaves: Opposite; simple; 5 lobed with many rounded teeth; 3" to 6" wide; deciduous; dark green above and lighter beneath, with some pubescence on veins; leathery; petiole 2" to 4" long; yellow to brown fall color.

Twigs/buds: Twigs with prominent lenticels; glabrous; brown; slightly four-angled.  Buds remain green throughout the winter.

Flowers/fruit: Monoecious.  Fruit a samara; 1-1/4" to 2" long; wings angled at about 60 degrees from one another; fall maturing.

Bark: Gray and reddish-brown to orange; scaly, flaking off and exposing orange inner bark.

Wood: Used to make musical instruments; little information available.

General: Native to Europe and western Asia.  Tolerates a wide variety of soil and environmental conditions, including considerable salt tolerance.  Intolerant to moderately shade tolerant.

Landscape Use: A large tree somewhat similar to Norway maple.  Heavily planted in Europe and very adaptable.  I have seen it doing well in older parts of Salt Lake City and in Utah County.  Needs considerable pruning to keep it in good shape.  Zones 4-7.

Cultivars: 'Atropurpureum', 'Brilliantissimum', 'Erectum', 'Erythrocarpum', 'Leopoldii', 'Prinz Handjery', f. variegatum, 'Worley'.

Characteristics