Hedge Maple Acer campestre

Hedge maple is a slow growing shrub or small tree in the Sapindaceae (maple) family native to Europe and western Asia. Genus name is the Latin name for a maple tree. Specific epithet means of the fields or open plains. 

Hedge maple has a rounded mature habit reaching 35 feet tall and wide. Considerable pruning is required and why it is given the common name hedge maple. Plant in rich,well-drained acidic soils in full to partial shade. It is easy to transplant due to a shallow root system. Tolerant of dry soils, compaction and air pollution.

The flowers are insignificant and are followed by winged samara. The fall color is yellow but not reliably so.

It is a good street tree that casts dense shade and works well under utility lines because it can be severely pruned. This tree supports pollinators and birds and makes an excellent shade tree for a pollinator garden or a recreational play area.  It can also be pruned into a screening hedge.  It produces many seeds and has the potential to become weedy.

Quick ID Hints:

• Leaves simple, 3-5 palmately lobed
• Leaf margin entire
• Leaves concolorous, pubescent below
• Petiole milky sap
• Fruit with horizontal wings

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Potential insects are various scale pests, aphids, maple worm, cankerworms, gall and beetles. Potential diseases ate Anthracnose, bacterial leaf scorch, verticillium wilt, canker and powdery mildew. See the fact sheets to the left.

VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I:  Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II:  Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University