The Cretan Maple, Acer sempervirens, is native to the Eastern Mediterranean and is one of the most drought-tolerant species in the genus, occurring on dry, sunny hillsides. This could explain why it had done well in Cambridge, where rainfall is low and the soil free-draining.
Although it is a slow-grower, the Garden’s tree has nevertheless reached an impressive 10.1 metres.
The small leaves are dark green, glossy, leathery and three-lobed, and give a dense cover.