Field maple vs Norway maple

Field maple and Norway maple are often considered for the same spot in the garden (shade, specimen, pollinator friendly). The data below shows where they differ: size, hardiness, care, toxicity and price.

Field maple

Acer campestre 4.5 m × 3 m after 10 years

A native, undemanding small to medium tree that copes with drought, lime and clay, city air and hard clipping, and turns a good yellow in autumn. Left…

Large tree

Full sun

Part shade

Norway maple

Acer platanoides 8 m × 6 m after 10 years

A large native shade tree with a dense, rounded crown that flowers yellowish green and honey-scented before the leaves open and turns golden yellow in…

Large tree

Full sun

Part shade

Key differences

Norway maple grows larger: 8 m × 6 m after ten years, against 4.5 m × 3 m for Field maple (an estimate: sources differ).
Field maple copes better with summer heat than Norway maple.
Field maple tolerates drought better than Norway maple.
Field maple needs less care than Norway maple.
Norway maple has pollen that can cause allergies, Field maple does not (an estimate: sources differ).

Which one to choose?

Field maple is the better choice if space is tight, the spot is hot and sunny, you cannot water regularly or you have little time for care.

Watch out for

Field maple

By late summer the foliage often gets powdery mildew, especially on clipped hedges; it looks poor but rarely does serious harm. Aphids, scale, leaf spots and tar spot occur, and occasionally verticillium wilt. It resprouts strongly after cutting and can also produce root suckers.

Norway maple

It is susceptible to verticillium wilt, which kills branches suddenly and cannot be cured. Winter sun can crack and scald the bark of young trunks. In the hot, dry summers of Central Europe, especially in paved urban settings, leaf margins scorch, and powdery mildew and tar spot are common on the foliage; stressed trees drop their leaves early. The shallow roots heave pavements and driveways.

The data side by side

Feature	Field maple	Norway maple
Group	Large tree	Large tree
Size after 10 years	4.5 m × 3 m (uncertain)	8 m × 6 m (uncertain)
Ultimate size	8–15 m × 8–11 m	12–30 m × 9–20 m
Growth rate	Medium (uncertain)	Fast
Light	Full sun, Part shade	Full sun, Part shade
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Calcareous	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Heat tolerance	High	Medium
Foliage	Deciduous	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, green, yellow (uncertain)	April–May, yellow, green
Water need	Medium	Medium
Drought tolerance	High	Medium
Maintenance	Low	Medium
Planting distance	600 cm	1000 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)	no data
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)	no data
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)	no data

Prices are rounded, indicative values. Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor. Data updated: October 26, 2026

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