Acer campestre

RHS Plant Profile

field maple

Other common names

common elder, common maple, dog oak, hedge maple, maser tree, master tree, masarnwydd lleiaf

Synonyms

Acer campestre var. austriacum

Trees

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A medium-sized deciduous tree with a compact bushy crown. Leaves with 5 blunt lobes, turning yellow or red in the autumn. Flowers small, green, forming typical winged maple fruits

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Sapindaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Acer can be deciduous trees or large shrubs with paired, often palmately-lobed leaves and small flowers followed by characteristic winged fruits. Many have fine autumn colour, and some have ornamental stems
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Europe, W Asia

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well-drained soil in sun or light shade. Suitable for chalky soils. See tree cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed in mid to late autumn or spring. Take softwood cuttings in early summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Low Maintenance
Hedging and screens

Pruning

Pruning group 1 but prune only from late autumn to midwinter

Pests

May be susceptible to gall mites, aphids, caterpillars and horse chestnut scale

Diseases

May be susceptible to tar spot, verticillium wilt and honey fungus