Field maple (Acer campestre) care guide

Acer campestre is commonly called field maple. It is also known in U.S. horticultural references as hedge maple, but field maple is the requested local common name.

Field maple is a deciduous small to medium-sized tree or large, multi-stemmed shrub in the maple genus, Acer, and the soapberry family, Sapindaceae.

Field maple commonly grows about 25 to 35 feet tall and wide in cultivation. Its final size varies with the cultivar, climate, soil, and pruning.

Field maple is generally cold hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 8. In colder or hotter parts of its potential range, site protection and adequate moisture may improve performance.

Field maple grows best in full sun but also tolerates partial shade. More sunlight usually encourages a denser crown and stronger fall color.

Field maple grows well in moist but well-drained loam and can adapt to clay, sand, and chalky soils. Avoid sites that remain waterlogged for long periods.

Field maple generally tolerates urban conditions, compacted soils, and some drought, making it useful for streets, lawns, and other developed sites. Adequate rooting space is still important for long-term health.

Field maple can be a smaller, more manageable alternative to Norway maple for some landscapes, especially where a dense crown or hedge is desired. It is not native to the United States, so regionally native trees may be preferable near natural areas.

Established field maple is moderately drought tolerant, but it needs regular watering during its first growing seasons and during prolonged heat or drought.

Water a young field maple deeply when the upper soil begins to dry, typically once or twice weekly during hot, dry weather. Established trees usually need supplemental water only during extended drought.

Field maple may be affected by aphids, scale insects, borers, caterpillars, and mites. Inspect stressed trees regularly and address watering, drainage, and pruning problems before using insecticides.

Possible diseases include leaf spots, tar spot, verticillium wilt, cankers, and root rots. Good drainage, proper watering, and pruning during dry conditions can reduce stress and disease risk.

Brown leaf edges can result from drought, heat, root damage, salt exposure, or disease. Check soil moisture and drainage first, and avoid frequent shallow watering that keeps the trunk and surface soil wet.

Yes, field maple can tolerate heavy clay soil better than many ornamental maples. Improve drainage where possible and avoid planting it in persistently saturated ground.

Plant field maple in fall or early spring when the tree is dormant and the soil is workable. In areas with hot summers, fall planting gives roots more time to establish before heat arrives.

Space standard field maple trees roughly 25 to 35 feet apart when allowing for their mature spread. Hedge-forming plants can be placed closer together, depending on the desired density and cultivar.

Plant field maple with the root flare level with or slightly above the surrounding soil, backfill with native soil, and water thoroughly. Apply a 2- to 3-inch mulch layer without piling mulch against the trunk.

Field maple can be planted near a house if there is enough room for its mature canopy and roots. Keep it away from foundations, overhead utilities, and narrow planting strips, and account for its potential spread of about 25 to 35 feet.

A young field maple can be grown temporarily in a large container, but it is ultimately a tree and will outgrow most pots. Container plants need excellent drainage, regular watering, root monitoring, and protection from extreme winter temperatures.

Yes, field maple responds well to pruning and can be trained as a dense hedge or screen. Begin structural training while the plant is young and avoid removing excessive growth at one time.

Prune field maple during winter dormancy or in mid- to late summer after the strongest spring sap flow has passed. Remove dead, damaged, crossing, or weakly attached branches first.

To develop a single-trunk tree, select one strong central leader and gradually remove competing stems and low branches. Make small cuts over several years rather than removing many large limbs at once.

Yes, field maple can be propagated from its winged seeds, although germination may be improved by a period of cold, moist stratification. Seed-grown plants may not reproduce the exact traits of a named cultivar.

Field maple is not usually propagated as easily from ordinary home-garden cuttings as some shrubs. Named cultivars are more reliably produced by specialized nursery grafting or other professional propagation methods.

Yes, field maple is suitable for bonsai because it responds to pruning and develops small, lobed leaves under bonsai culture. It needs strong seasonal light, careful watering, and winter dormancy appropriate to the cultivar and climate.

Field maple is not generally treated as a major invasive tree across the United States, but it has been reported as naturalized or potentially invasive in some local areas. Check your state or county plant lists before planting near natural habitats.

No recognized species-specific toxicity is firmly established for field maple, but the plant should not be eaten. Keep pets and children from chewing leaves, bark, seeds, or other plant material, and contact a medical or veterinary professional after suspected ingestion.

Yes, field maple leaves can turn yellow, orange, or red in fall, although the exact color depends on the cultivar and growing conditions. Bright light and cool autumn weather often improve color.

Field maple usually flowers in spring, commonly around April to May in temperate climates. The flowers are small and yellowish green rather than highly ornamental.

The small spring flowers can provide a nectar and pollen resource for insects, although field maple is generally grown for its foliage, form, and adaptability rather than for showy flowers.

Yes, field maple produces paired winged fruits called samaras, commonly known as helicopter seeds. They mature after flowering and may self-sow in suitable conditions.