The Montpelier Maple, whose scientific name is Acer monspessulanum, is one of the most suitable shade trees for small gardens, even for those with limestone soil. With a height of about 7 meters, it does not need much to maintain itself.
In addition, during autumn its beautiful leaves turn a spectacular reddish-orange color. So why not meet him? 😉
Origin and characteristics of Acer monspessulanum
Our protagonist is a shrub or deciduous tree native to southern Europe and southern Asia. In Spain we can find it in the mountain ranges of the Iberian Peninsula, and some in the Sierra de Tramuntana de Mallorca. It is known by the common names minor maple, goblin, mundillo, and Montpellier maple.
It has a slow growth rate, reaching a maximum of 7 meters. Its crown is wide, up to 5 meters in diameter, and is formed by trilobed leaves with a size of 3-6cm.
The flowers, which appear in spring, sprout in yellow pendulums of about 2-3cm. Once pollinated, the dysámaras (fruits) begin to mature until finally in late summer / early autumn they fall from the tree.
Their life expectancy is very long: about 300 years.
What care do you need?
Would you like to have this beautiful tree in your garden? If so, don't hesitate to get one. To take care of it in the best possible way, we invite you to put our advice to the test:
Location
It has to be outside, in semi-shade. Its roots are not invasive, but due to the dimensions of its crown it is convenient to plant it at a minimum distance of 6 meters from the house and tall plants.
A word of advice: plant flowering plants, such as clivia. The end result will be fantastic, because the whole set will stand out a lot 😉.
Land
Prefers limestone soils, but it can live in siliceans. In case you want to have it in a pot for a few years, use substrates that have a pH of 7 or 7.5.
Irrigation
It lives in dry areas, but when it is cultivated it requires more or less frequent watering, especially during the summer. As usual, you should water it 3-4 times a week in the warmer months, and every 4-5 days the rest of the year.
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From the beginning of spring to the end of summer, at least, it is necessary that you fertilize it with organic fertilizers (leftovers of "dry" food such as lettuce, egg and / or banana shells, tea grounds, etc .; manure o guano). Go throwing it regularly, for example, every 15-20 days, and you will see how beautiful it becomes.
Planting time
The best time to spend it in the garden is in spring, when the risk of frost has passed.
Pruning
It's not necesary. It will be enough to remove the dry, diseased or weak branches.
Plagues and diseases
It's very tough. Even so, in dry and very hot environments you may see some cottony mealybug in the youngest branches and / or in the leaves, which you can remove with a swab from the ears moistened in water or pharmacy alcohol.
Multiplication
Do you want to get new copies? If so, you can multiply it in the following ways:
- Seeds: you can sow them in autumn in a pot with universal growing medium mixed with 30% perlite, and keep it watered. In spring they will germinate (more or less, at eight weeks). If you live in an area with a mild climate, stratify them in the fridge for 2 months and then plant them in a pot.
- Layered: in spring you can do air layering and thus get a genetically identical specimen to your tree. Here we explain how it is done.
Rusticity
El Acer monspessulanum it resists well cold and frost down to -15ºC, so you won't have to worry about that 🙂. But yes, you should know that warm temperatures of 30ºC or more can harm you if you do not have moist soil; Furthermore, in order for it to develop excellently, it is very important that frosts occur during winter. It needs to be cold for two or three months to be able to resume its growth strongly during the spring; otherwise it would quickly weaken from not having been able to have its winter rest.
What uses does it have?
Its uses are as follows:
- Ornamental: it is a very beautiful tree that looks great in any corner. It gives very good shade, it is resistant to pests and diseases, rustic ... What more could you ask for? In addition, you can use it to create tall hedges and thus gain privacy in your garden.
- Carpentry and joinery: as its wood is very hard, it is used to make luxury objects.
- Cattle feed: the leaves are used as fodder.
El Acer monspessulanum It is a very decorative tree that, surely, will not give you any problem. So that you can enjoy it for a long time, do not hesitate to take note of our advice and ask us any questions you have. 😉