Acer campestre

Origin: Europe Minor Asia
Botanical characteristics: It is a medium size plant that grows o 10 mt high, which can be a tree or a shrub as well. The medium-sized leaves are lobed and they turn golden yellow in autumn. In April-May thare is a insignificant yellow-green corymb efflorescences. The fruits are double samaras whose divergent wings form an angle of 180°. The bark is dark and cracked, the branches have often large corky wings.
Agronomic-environmental characteristics: It is a slow-growing plant, very common in italian forests, plains and hills up to 800 mt high. It doesn’t need special kinds of soil but it can be found especially in basic ones (calcareous). It has a good resistance to drought and air pollution.
Use: It is a typical rural plant, usually used in formal, free or mixed hedges. It withstands pruning. Once it was used to form “jealousy” hedges, crossing the branches to form a grid.It is used isolated or in groups in parks and gardens, along the boulevards or in car parks.