Acer
Acer campestre
Field maple
Feld-Ahorn, Maßholder - Érable champêtre - Spaanse aak, Veldesdoorn
| Height: | circa 12 m |
| Crown: | oval |
| Bark and branches: | grey bark with conspicuous corky fissures |
| Leaf: | 3/5 lobes, dark green, 6 - 10 (12)cm |
| Flower: | small, terminal corymbs, yellow-green, May |
| Fruits: | single-seed winged nutlets, always paired |
| Application: | parks, wide avenues and streets, industrial areas |
| Soil type: | any soil, except dry infertile sandy soil |
| Wind resistance: | very good |
| Origin: | Europe, western Asia and North Africa |
| Winter hardiness zone: | 5a |
| Synonym: | - |
A medium sized tree up to 12 m high. The crown is a-symmetric because of the irregular growth of the branches. The branches have conspicuous corky fissures, both on mature and young wood. Juvenile foliage may have a reddish look when it unfurls, but soon turns dark green. The colour in autumn is dark yellow and last for a long time. In the Netherlands Acer campestre is indigenous and has been used by man for a very long time. Not only as a tree, but also pruned as a hedge this plant is very functional. Because of its shade-tolerance and ability to grow on industrial estates it is a very multi-functional plant. Forms a strongly branching main root with very many rootlets. The plant is propagated by seeding and therefore variations in the off-spring can occur. This is visible because some features (autumn colour, corky fissures on the branches) are present to a more or lesser extent. Acer campestre is often used in hedges since it stands up exceptionally well to pruning. But pruning should never be done in the spring because the tree's sap rises early.
