Acer Campestre

Field maple

Species Tolerances

  • Drought Tolerance: Medium
  • Shade Tolerance: Yes
  • Waterlogging Tolerance: Low
  • Frost Tolerance (trees from warmer climates may be frost tolerant, but their flowers may not be): Yes
  • RHS Hardiness: H6
  • Optimum Conditions for Growth:
    A medium sized understorey tree in woodland that can be coppiced or pollarded. A lowland species that can grow in a range of soils, even mildly acid if nutrient rich. Though prefers alkaline, heavy soils including heavy clay.
  • Susceptibility to Pest/Disease:
    No major pest or disease susceptibility at present.

Acer campestre Ebsdorfergrund-Frauenberg, Hesse, Germany/ 006 Willow/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/deed.en

Service to Pollinators

  • Summary of Service to Pollinators:
    Produces plenty of nectar and pollen early in the year to aid build up of bumblebee, mining bees and honeybee colonies. Honeydew is produced when aphids are active
  • Nectar Value to Pollinators: 3 (of 0-3)
  • Honeydew Value to Pollinators: 2 (of 0-3)
  • Pollen Value to Bees: 3 (of 0-3)
  • Flowering Period: April-May

Risks

  • Human Toxicity: Non-toxic
  • Livestock Toxicity: Non-toxic
  • Invasive Risk: No
  • Suckering: No

Products

  • Edible Fruit: No
  • Edible Leaves: No
  • Edible Sap: Yes
  • Edible Seeds: No
  • Honey, major source in UK: Yes
  • For any medicinal potential, see 'Further Details' below.
  • Timber: Yes
  • Livestock Fodder: Yes
  • Other Products:
    Hard specialist timber ideal for furniture & musical instruments, Coppice

Utility

  • Nitrogen Fixation: No
  • Organic Matter Accumulation: Insufficient Data
  • Phytoremediation: Insufficient Data
  • Deacidification: Insufficient Data
  • Windbreak: Yes
  • Soil Erosion Control: Yes
  • Shade or Shelter: Yes
  • Plant Support: Insufficient Data
  • Integrated Pest Management: Insufficient Data
  • Wildlife Value: Yes
  • Wildlife Value Summary:
    Good for biodiversity, which refers to invertebrate feeding on the tree, especially insects. Seeds are available as food to a large number of birds and mammals.
  • Graduated Nativeness Classification
    ⓘ
    1. Historic Native
    2. Historic Introduction
    9. Neutral Introduction
    : 1 (of 1-10)

Further Details

    Specialist timber eg for furniture & musical instruments, hard wood though a relatively small, slow-growing native tree. Ideal as an understorey tree in mixed woodland. Resists pollution well. Can be trained to be low-growing or hedging. Not suitable for montane or maritime sites.