Its natural habitat is the Mediterranean. It is a large shrub to a small tree, often with multiple stems and is rarely found as a cultivar. It is a slow grower, that, once fully grown, has a crown with a spread of circa 6 m. The smooth stem is dark grey and becomes lightly grooved when it matures. The relatively small leaf is shiny dark green, the underside is blue-green. In autumn it turns into a conspicuous yellow. The leaf shows a clear resemblance with A. campestre, but does not contain milky sap. The flowers appear from the end of April to the beginning of May, more or less simultaneously with the new leaves. It is a remarkably healthy, hardy tree and is very drought tolerant. However, Acer monspessulanum is sensitive to salt (for icy roads). Acer monspessulanum was first discovered in the south of France. 'Mons pessulanus' is the Latin name for the French city of Montpellier.