Leaves & needles
Small leaves with usually five blunt, rounded lobes; leaves are opposite on the twig.
UK nativeDeciduousTypical height 10–20 m
Field maple
Acer campestre
The UK’s native maple, a rounded tree with small blunt-lobed leaves and a bright yellow autumn display.
THROUGH THE YEAR
Field maple through the seasons
A compact, rounded crown of small lobed leaves.
Often vivid yellow, with paired winged seeds spread almost horizontally.
Dense, rounded framework; corky young branches may stand out.
Typical open-grown form. Leaf fall varies with weather and location; young or clipped trees may retain dead leaves. Pruned, sheltered and young trees can look different.
LOOK A LITTLE CLOSER
How to identify field maple
Bark
Grey-brown and finely fissured; young branches can develop conspicuous corky ridges.
Twigs
Brown, sometimes corky shoots with opposite buds and branching.
Buds
Small brown buds in opposite pairs; scale edges can be hairy.
Flowers & pollen
Small yellow-green flower clusters appear with the new leaves.
Fruit, seeds & cones
Paired winged seeds spread almost in a straight line, like a broad moustache.
Typical flowering: Apr, May. Weather and location change timing.
Images show typical features and are not to scale. Confirm several features using the reference sources below.
CARE WITH PURPOSE
Caring for field maple
Help it thrive
Adaptable to many well-drained soils, including chalk, and useful in exposed gardens. Water while establishing; allow room for its eventual crown.
Pruning advice
Use modest formative cuts or selective thinning. Avoid unnecessary spring cuts; hedge clipping follows a different maintenance regime.
When can it be pruned?
November–January while fully dormant
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Highlighted months are an indicative window for the work described, not a reason to prune every year. An unshaded month is not an absolute ban.
Timing must suit the tree's health, weather, wildlife and legal protection. Avoid severe frost, drought and vulnerable new leaf growth. Mature trees, major branches and suspected defects need professional assessment.
Tree health: what to watch for
Identification & care references
Guide researched November 2026. Identification remains provisional until several features agree. UK native means native in some part of the UK, not necessarily your area.
Before work in England, check tree preservation orders, conservation-area restrictions and wildlife protection. Official tree protection guidance ↗