The hedge maple is a native to Europe, the Near East, and Africa. It has low, slender branches and a rounded form. The height and the spread of the tree are both about thirty-five feet. Its moderate size makes it an excellent street tree for residential areas. Hedge maples sometimes need pruning to maintain their nice shapes A row of these can be pruned to make a hedge – hence the name. This tree tolerates dry, alkaline soil but needs some protection from wind and does well in temperate zones such as ours. The main ornamental feature of the hedge maple is its bright yellow fall color.