Field maple

Field maple (Acer campestre) is native to much of Europe, including Britain, where it’s the only member of its genus. Most of the 130+ species of maple (Acer) are found in Asia.

This deciduous tree is common in parks and gardens for its golden autumnal colour and tolerance to pollution. It’s popular in hedgerow (as we well know) and even called hedge maple in North America.

Growing up to 20m in height, field maple lives for up to 350 years and can be identified by its:

- Small grey spring leaf buds and dark brown winter buds

- Small, clustered yellow-green spring flowers

- Five-lobed leaves in opposite pairs with rounded teeth

- Fruit (‘samara’) that develop wings for wind dispersal once pollinated

- Flaky, light brown bark that becomes corky with age

Field maple hosts pollinators, mammals, aphids and their predators and requires a moist, well-drained, neutral soil of any type.

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Field maple can be differentiated from the ubiquitous sycamore by its rounder leaves.

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Maple syrup is sap from a maple tree and produced by all maples. However, the UK’s relatively mild winters make sap production a commercial non-starter.

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The Acer (maple) genus is part of the soapberry (Sapindaceae) family, making it a relative of lychees and horse chestnuts.

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Field maple produces the hardest timber among its European brethren. It is often used in wood carving and to make musical instruments.

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