Field Maple, Hedge Maple
Kingdom: Plantae; Division: Tracheophyta; Class: Magnoliopsida; Order: Sapindales; Family: Sapindaceae; Genus: Acer; Species: Acer campestre · Sapindaceae (Maple family) · Simple, deciduous
Species
Acer campestre (95% confidence)
Leaf Type
Simple, deciduous
Family
Sapindaceae (Maple family)
Shape
Palmately lobed with 3-5 rounded lobes
Size
Approximately 2-4 inches wide and long; smaller than typical Acer platanoides or Acer pseudoplatanus
Margin
Entire to wavy on the lobes, lacks the sharp serration or points of other maples
Arrangement
Opposite
Rarity
Common in its native European range; common in urban landscaping worldwide
Color & Pattern
Rich medium to dark green above, paler beneath; turns a brilliant clear yellow in autumn
Venation Pattern
Palmate venation with primary veins radiating from the base
Texture & Surface
Upper surface is smooth (glabrous) and slightly leathery; petiole often contains a milky sap when snapped
Description
A medium-sized deciduous tree or shrub often reaching 15-25 meters. It features a dense, rounded crown and corky, fissured bark on older branches. The flowers are small, yellow-green, and grow in upright clusters appearing with the leaves.
Key Features
Rounded lobes (unlike the pointed lobes of Sugar Maple), small leaf size, opposite leaf arrangement, and milky sap in the petiole
Habitat
Found in hedgerows, scrubland, and deciduous forests; prefers alkaline soils but is highly adaptable
Geographic Range
Native to Europe, Southwest Asia, and North Africa; widely introduced in North America as an ornamental
Condition Notes
Good health; minor mechanical damage/tearing visible on the margins and a few small necrotic spots probably due to environmental stress or minor insect herbivory
Interesting Facts
It is the only maple native to the British Isles. The wood is traditionally used for musical instruments and fine furniture due to its hardness and attractive grain.
Medicinal & Uses
Primarily used as a hedging plant due to its ability to tolerate heavy pruning; also used for woodturning and as a street tree for its pollution tolerance
Ecological Role
Provides a food source for caterpillars of various moths and nectar for bees; often provides nesting sites for birds in dense hedges
Similar Species
Acer platanoides (Norway Maple) which has much larger, sharply pointed leaves; Acer monspessulanum (Montpellier Maple) which has smaller, strictly 3-lobed leaves
Foraging Tips
Look for the distinctive 'samara' seeds where the wings are spread out almost horizontally (180 degrees) in mid-summer to autumn
Toxicity Warning
Non-toxic to humans. Note: Some maple species are toxic to horses (atypical myopathy), though Field Maple is generally considered less risky than Sycamore Maple.