Field Maple/Hedge Maple - Acer campestre

Habitat

• hedgerow tree

• native to Europe, Near East and Africa

• a common hedgerow tree in southern England, preferring more alkaline sites there

Habit and Form

• small to medium tree

• deciduous

• very round crown, densely branched

• 25' to 35' tall

• often branches very low to the ground

• medium texture

• resembles a miniature Acer platanoides in habit and form

Summer Foliage

• opposite, 3- to 5-lobed leaves, 2" to 4" wide

• uniform dark green color

Flowers

• blooms in May

• small, yellow-green flowers in clusters

Fruit

• samaras, 1.25" to 1.75"

• nutlet often pubescent

• pairs of samaras join to form a nearly straight line

Bark

• greyish-black

• shallow ridges and furrows

• resembles that of Acer platanoides

Landscape Uses

• excellent for residential areas as a lawn tree

• can be pruned into a hedge (a common use in Europe)

• a good choice for urban sites

• warrants greater use in the landscape

Healing effects:

The brew of the bark of this small-sized tree - which is widespread in Middle-Europe – (decoctum) first of all is used to relax the highly inflamed skin, but it is recommended for bath too, especially in case of sensitive or very dry skin.

From its close kindred, the maple (Acer saccharum) is used to produce the popular maple syrup in Northern-America.

Sponsors:

Ministry of National Resources

University of Szeged

KEFAG Zrt.

Future of Europe Association