Scientific Name
Acer opalus
The Italian maple is native mainly to the Mediterranean climates of southern Europe, with some range extending into southernmost Germany and northernmost Algeria. It is not commonly found in arboreta or botanical gardens in the United States. This specimen was grown from seed collected by Allan Taylor in northern Greece, where the Mediterranean climate begins to shift toward a more continental one. That origin may give it above-average cold hardiness for our region. Dr. Taylor, a retired professor of linguistics at the University of Colorado and an active plant explorer, is one of several horticulturists who have contributed plant material to the Regis Arboretum.
Italian maple has relatively broad leaves without pronounced lobes, which helps distinguish it from other maples in our area. As with all maples, the leaves are arranged in opposite pairs on the twigs, and the veins radiate outward in a palmate pattern from the base. The fruit is the familiar paired samara, with the wings typically held at about a 45-degree angle. Fall color is usually yellow, though not especially showy.
Because this is such an uncommon tree — we are not aware of others growing in Colorado — its ultimate size here is uncertain. A reasonable estimate is that it may reach up to about 20 feet in height at most.