Field maple Acer campestre
Field maple (Acer campestre) is a deciduous perennial tree in the Sapindaceae family, native to Europe, north Africa and southwest Asia. It grows 8–15 m (26–49 ft) tall and 6–10 m (20–33 ft) wide, wants part sun to part shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about -28 °C (-18 °F). Space plants about 7 m (23 ft) apart.
Plan Field maple in your garden →
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Field maple at a glance
| Type | Perennial tree, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Sapindaceae |
| Mature height | 8–15 m (26–49 ft) |
| Mature spread | 6–10 m (20–33 ft) |
| Spacing | 7 m (23 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Part sun to part shade, at least 4 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 6–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About -28 °C (-18 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 5) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 34 °C (93 °F) |
| Flowering | from about May for 1–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Moderate |
| Pollinator value | Moderate |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Native to | Europe, north Africa and southwest Asia |
| Common in gardens of | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇷 France |
Is Field maple toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not well documented
- Dogs: not well documented
Not considered toxic to people; pet toxicity is not well documented.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Field maple
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like part sun to part shade and moderate water.
Shared pests and diseases
- Verticillium wilt: Verticillium lives in soil for years; hosts planted together or in sequence build it up. Evidence B
Questions about Field maple
- How far apart should I plant Field maple?
- About 7 m (23 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 6–10 m (20–33 ft).
- Does Field maple need full sun?
- Part sun to part shade: at least 4 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Field maple need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Field maple?
- It tolerates about -28 °C (-18 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 5.
- When does Field maple flower?
- From about May for 1–3 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Field maple poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not well documented; for dogs not well documented; for people not known to be toxic. Not considered toxic to people; pet toxicity is not well documented.
- What grows well with Field maple?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Field maple. Group it with plants that like the same sun (part sun to part shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Notes and assumptions
- Tolerates clipping, so it is widely used in native hedges; tolerates alkaline and clay soil.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Japanese maple Acer palmatum
- Red maple Acer rubrum
- Lychee Litchi chinensis
- Longan Dimocarpus longan
- Rambutan Nephelium lappaceum
- Sugar maple Acer saccharum
- Norway maple Acer platanoides
- Horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum