The only maple with its origins in Europe.

A medium-sized deciduous tree with a compact bushy crown. Leaves with 5 blunt lobes turning yellow or red in the autumn. Reaching 15 – 25m tall with a trunk up to 1m in diameter with finely fissured, often corky bark. The leaves are in opposite pairs, 5 – 16 cm long (including the 3 – 9 cm petiole which makes it less appropriate as bonsai) and 5 – 10cm broad, with five blunt, rounded lobes with a smooth margin.

More frost resistant than other groups of Acers, probably due to its European origins. .