Field Maple
Acer campestre · Deciduous, Broadleaf Hardwood
Plant Family
Sapindaceae (Soapberry family, formerly Aceraceae)
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Small Street Tree, Hedge/Espalier, Ornamental
Variety / Cultivar
Standard species (possibly trained as a pleached or espaliered specimen)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 5a to 8b. Cold hardy to -20°F (-29°C). Highly adaptable to urban microclimates.
About This Tree
A small-to-medium deciduous tree featuring a dense, rounded crown when mature. The image shows a young specimen trained flat along support wires (espalier or pleached style). It exhibits opposite, small 3- to 5-lobed leaves with rounded lobe tips, typical brownish tan bark, and slender reddish-brown young stems.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, opposite leaves, 2 to 4 inches wide with 3 to 5 blunt, rounded lobes. Dark green and matte on top, slightly paler underneath, turning a brilliant yellow to gold in autumn. Leaf stalks yield a milky sap when snapped.
Bark Characteristics
Young stems are light brown to tan, sometimes developing corky fissures or ridges with age. Mature bark turns grayish-brown, finely fissured, and broken into small square scales.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe, Southwestern Asia, and Northern Africa; widely cultivated across temperate regions.
Growing Season
Leafs out in mid-spring (April), flowers concurrently with or just after leaves emerge, produces winged samaras in summer, exhibits rich golden-yellow foliage in autumn before going dormant in late fall.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in Full Sun to Partial Shade. Prefers well-drained, moist soils but shows excellent tolerance to drought, compaction, and alkaline soil conditions once established.
Mature Size
Reaches a mature height of 25 to 35 feet (7.5-10.5 m) and a spread of 25 to 30 feet (7.5-9 m) with a slow to moderate growth rate. Can live up to 150-250 years.
Special Characteristics
Extremely tolerant of heavy pruning, pollution, soil compaction, and air pollution, making it an excellent candidate for pleaching, hedges, and urban street planting. Notable for brilliant yellow fall color and chalky/milky petiole sap.
Wildlife & Ecology
Flowers provide early spring nectar and pollen for bees and hoverflies. Winged seeds (samaras) are eaten by birds, small mammals, and caterpillars of various moth species. Provides dense nesting habitat.