Field Maple (Acer campestre)

Field Maple (Acer campestre)

Field Maple is a medium sized but fast growing tree, often found in hedgerows and mixed woodland (we include Field Maple in our mixed native woodland collections.) They're good hedge plants and lay easily, standing out in a hedgerow in the autumn when, as you would expect from an Acer, their leaves put on a lovely show. They turn bright yellow, then a mellow orange brown. In spring Field Maple has small yellow flowers, succeeded by red fruit.

Acer campestre is tolerant of most conditions, although it doesn't like prolonged shade or flooding. Surprisingly, trees can live over 300 years.

Uses

Maple wood, tough and fine grained, has been used for centuries for high quality items. It was used by the Saxons for harps, and in the Middle Ages for ornamental drinking bowls called mazers. You can make maple syrup from its sap. I haven't tried.

Value For Wildlife

Field maples are pollinated by insects, and their flowers are attractive nectar sources for bees. Several moth larvae eat its foliage, including the endearingly named small yellow wave. Its leaves are also said to attract aphids (are there many that don't?!), and thence aphid predators, including hoverflies.

Plants For Sale

Like all the native trees we sell, our Field maples are grown in the UK from UK origin seed. We sell the smaller 2 year old 60-90cm whips in multiples of 5, ideal for hedge planting, and larger plants singly.

Suppliers: RV Roger, Oakover Trees.

Please note that standard sizes relate to tree girths in cm. See our size guide for details and tips on planting. These Field Maples are bare root, and are consequently available for delivery from November until March. During the lifting season there may be up to two weeks delay between placing the order and dispatching, due to weather conditions or pressure of orders, which are dealt with in date sequence. Orders for Field Maple placed between March and September are confirmed in October ready for dispatch from November.