Acer campestre

Acer campestre is known for its fabulous autumn display of buttery yellow and red leaves, creating a focal point in a garden that is heading into winter. It is deciduous and offers a show of dark green, rounded five-lobed foliage in spring and summer. The leaves are often tinted purple-red when young before deepening into green. In spring, the tree offers a lovely display of yellow-green upright flowers.

Field Maple trees have a fissured bark with a corky texture adding an additional interesting element. It has winged helicopter-like seeds that children enjoy collecting.

Your Field Maple enjoys fertile, moist and well-drained soil. It is very hardy and can grow in full sun or partial shade. This tree is resilient and will tolerate a range of less than perfect conditions. It has a rounded habit and can reach heights of 9m with a spread of 7m in a 20 year period.

Acer campestre makes a wonderful hedgerow and can be kept compact and in shape by regular pruning. Plant many in a row to block out an unsightly view or obscure a dull boundary wall. It also makes a great specimen tree when planted alone, next to a garden feature, a picnic spot or when surrounded by a a rocky landscape.

Acer campestre holds an RHS Award of Garden merit. Royal followers and avid gardeners will be delighted to know that the large trees lining the red carpet that William and Kate walked along leading to the Alter were a mix of 6 English Field Maples and 2 Hornbeam trees!