Bareroot Field Maple Hedge Plants

At a Glance

• Use: Country hedge, specimen tree, windbreak
• Height: Up to 20m as tree, clips to any height as hedge
• Growth: Medium. Dense, bushy
• Soil: Most soils, including chalk
• Light: Full sun to part shade
• Type: Native deciduous tree
• Species: Acer campestre
• RHS Plants for Pollinators
• Bareroot Delivery: Nov-March Only
• Pot Grown Delivery: Year-round

Appearance, Growth & Uses

Field Maple is, along with Hazel, the most commonly used country hedge plant after Hawthorn and Blackthorn, featuring in pretty much every mixed native country hedge.

As a tree, it reaches up to 20 metres with a great thick trunk and wide rounded crown.

The small, deeply lobed leaves are bright green in summer, turning buttery yellow in Autumn.
The corky bark develops attractive ridges and fissures with age, providing a bit of extra interest in Winter.

Field Maple produces dense, bushy growth that clips beautifully, creating thick, impenetrable hedges.
Being thornless, it's great beside gates and along pathways.

It excels as traditional country hedging, windbreak planting, and specimen trees. The dense, twiggy growth provides decent privacy even in Winter.

The small, insignificant flowers in late April are followed in autumn by Winged helicopter seeds.

• Buy larger Field Maple trees for instant impact.
• Browse other native hedging plants, our mixed country hedge packs, other Maple trees, or our full range of hedge plants & sapling trees.

Growing Conditions

• Soil: Tolerates most soils, including chalk and clay
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Moisture: Drought tolerant
• Avoid: Totally waterlogged soils
• Maintenance: Trim annually
• Hardiness: Very hardy, excellent wind resistance

Field Maple thrives in most soil types, including shallow chalk where many other plants struggle.

It's drought tolerant once established, ideal for dry, exposed sites and coastal windbreaks.

Garden Design Ideas

Use Field Maple for traditional mixed country hedging, combining with hawthorn, blackthorn, and dog rose for a secure barrier.

Perfect as specimen trees in wildlife gardens, where the autumn colour and corky bark provide year-round interest.
It can be coppiced every 5 to 10 years to control its size.

History & Trivia

Acer campestre is Britain's only native maple, growing wild in ancient woodlands and hedgerows throughout England and Wales, particularly on chalky soils.

The wood burns well after 12 months of seasoning, with a good burn rate and minimal smoke and sparking.

It was never an important timber tree, but the hard, fine-grained wood polishes well and was widely used for bowls, cups, musical instruments, and various decorative items.

Field Maple is great for wildlife, supporting about 15 species of moth and butterfly caterpillar, with many more feeding on the nectar.
The seeds feed birds, especially tits and finches, and pretty much all rodents.