Acer campestre field maple, hedge maple

Field maple (and its varieties) is one of the most frequently planted trees in Czech urban landscapes. It is of European origin and has earned its success thanks to its high tolerance to all kinds of weather conditions as well as those brought upon by humans, and longevity. It is rated a medium-tall tree, although there are some extra-large specimens of high age located all around the globe. The cultivars are significantly smaller and are also suitable for small gardens.

Leaves of field maple are deciduous, palmate, medium green, partially glossy, and decorated with shallow lobes = they lack the tips so typical for maples. In autumn they turn yellow. Just when the leaves emerge, small, yellowish flowers appear. They carry allergenic pollen and are followed by winged seeds. Older trees form attractively cork-like, fissured bark.

The tree grows fast and dense, young plants are upright and thicken with age, forming broadly oval to almost rounded crowns. However, it is renowned for being quite variable as trees from the same nursery may behave differently in different places. Its other name is Hedge maple because its growth rate and dense branching have long been utilized in screening, hedging, and in windbreaks, just like hornbeams. But in a formal hedge, you would need to trim it several times a year.

Field maple is not fussy about the soil type - it can handle anything from acidic to alkaline and wet to dry. It doesn't mind paving, salt spray, or grassing over the roots. Newly planted trees only need to be staked to the support for at least three years after planting, before they establish. Data on its hardiness vary significantly, it is commonly rated as hardy to -30 ° C, but some northerners confirm its reliability down to -40 ° C.

Last update 12-11-2021