What soil does Field maple grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, calcareous.

Is Field maple hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Field maple be planted?

Plant it at least 6.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 2 m from paving.

How far apart should Field maple be planted?

Planted on its own, it needs 6 m between plants. For a hedge, allow 3 plants per metre.

How much water does Field maple need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: high.

Field maple

Acer campestre

Field maple (Acer campestre) is a large tree. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: high.

Illustration of Field maple — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

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 alone it makes a dense, rounded shade tree; clipped, it forms a tight, wildlife-friendly hedge. It seeds freely, so pull out seedlings now and then, and do not prune it in early spring because it bleeds heavily.

Watch out for

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.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 4.5 m × 3 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous

All details

Group	Large tree
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	4.5 m × 3 m
Ultimate size	8–15 m × 8–11 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, green, yellow
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	yes
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	at least 6.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 2 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	600 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	Non-toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 26, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Drought-tolerant plants Hedge plants Plants for screening Plants that give shade Plants with autumn colour Large trees with autumn colour

Guide on the topic

Fast-growing hedges: how much each grows in a year The fastest hedge plant is the Leyland cypress, growing about 90 cm a year, followed by cherry laurel 'Novita', firethorn and western red cedar at about 50 cm a year, then privet at 40 cm. How long a 180 cm hedge takes to screen depends more on the size of plant you buy: several years from small plants, one or two summers from large ones, but at many times the price per metre. The tables use the current shop prices in your country.

Compare with similar plants

Field maple vs European beech Field maple vs Norway maple Field maple vs Sycamore maple

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