Broadleaf Deciduous Trees
Acer campestre
Field Maple
Sapindaceae
Europe, western Asia (Britain east to Caucasus and Iran)
At a Glance
TypeTree
HabitUpright
FoliageDeciduous
Height25–35 feet (7.5–10.5 m)
Width20–30 feet (6–9 m)
Maturity25 years
Growing Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones
5 - 8Zone 5
Zone 6
Zone 7
Zone 8
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
Frost Tolerancehardy
Key Features
Attracts Pollinators
Drought Tolerant
Maintenancelow
Overview
Acer campestre is a deciduous tree or large shrub reaching 25–35 feet (7.5–10.5 m) tall with a spread of 20–30 feet (6–9 m) as a free-standing tree; when regularly clipped as a hedge it maintains any height from 4–15 feet (1.2–4.5 m). The crown is rounded and dense. Bark is corky and irregularly furrowed on older specimens. Leaves are opposite, 1.5–3 inches (4–7.5 cm) wide, with five rounded lobes and milky sap in the petiole when broken. Foliage is dark green above, paler and slightly hairy below. Fall color is yellow to golden-yellow, lasting 2–3 weeks. Small yellow-green flowers appear in upright corymbs in April–May. Paired samaras, 1–1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) long, are held nearly horizontally with wings in a nearly straight line. The species tolerates alkaline and chalk soils, compacted ground, air pollution, and coastal exposure better than most maples, but grows more slowly in very poor, dry soils.
Native Range
Acer campestre is native to Europe from Britain and Scandinavia south to the Mediterranean, and east through western Asia to Iran and the Caucasus. It grows in hedgerows, woodland margins, and mixed deciduous forests on calcareous soils, from sea level to 3,300 feet (1,000 m) elevation.Suggested Uses
Planted as a specimen tree, street tree, or formal or informal hedge at 3–4 foot (90–120 cm) spacing for hedging or 20–25 foot (6–7.5 m) for specimen use. Tolerates root zone restrictions in paved urban environments better than larger maples. Among the most adaptable maples for hedging on alkaline, clay, or exposed sites. Not suited to sites with prolonged standing water.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height25' - 35'
Width/Spread20' - 30'
Reaches mature size in approximately 25 years
Colors
Flower Colors
yellow green
Foliage Colors
dark green
Fall Foliage Colors
yellow
gold
Bloom Information
Bloom Period
~2 weeksJ
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Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
yellow-greenFoliage Description
dark green above, paler below; yellow to golden-yellow in fallGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Full Sun
Partial Shade
Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Soil Requirements
pH Range5.5 - 8.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
loamclaysandchalk
Drainage
well drained
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Low
Frost Tolerance
hardy
Time to Maturity
20–30 years
Drought Tolerance
Drought tolerant when established
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plant in any well-drained to moist soil with a pH of 5.5–8.0; tolerates alkaline and chalk soils without chlorosis, unlike most maples. Water weekly during the first two growing seasons. Established trees tolerate dry spells of 2–3 weeks and periodic flooding of short duration. Tolerates heavy pruning for hedge maintenance without significant decline. Air pollution and coastal exposure tolerance is high relative to most maples. Fall color is less vivid in zones 8–9 than in zones 5–7. No routine fertilization is required in average soils.Pruning
For hedge use, clip 1–3 times per year from late spring through late summer; avoid clipping after early September to allow growth to harden before frost. For specimen trees, prune in late spring to early summer (May–June) after leaf-out to minimize sap bleeding. Remove dead, crossing, or rubbing branches. For rejuvenation of overgrown hedges, cut to 12–18 inches (30–45 cm) in late winter; regrowth is vigorous.Pruning Schedule
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late spring