Scientific Name
Acer campestre
Also called hedge maple, this tree has a large native habitat ranging from England — where it is the only native maple — to the Middle East and slightly into North Africa. This durable tree tolerates a wide range of soils and climates and could bring needed diversity to our maple population. Because it does not grow as large as many maples, it is well suited to smaller sites.
Field maple typically reaches 40 feet in height, and the largest known in Colorado has reached 50 feet. The leaves often turn a good yellow color in the fall, somewhat later than those of other maples. As with all maple species, the leaves grow opposite each other on the twigs. One trait it shares with Norway maple, but not with many others of its genus, is that the leaf stem releases a milky sap when removed from the tree. The two species also have fruits with wings that spread horizontally. The alternate common name hedge maple comes from the tree’s tolerance of heavy pruning. In its native range, a line of these trees is often shaped into a hedge.