Field Maple - Acer campestre

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Description

Bush or tree to 20 metres - leaves rather small 4 to 7 cm across. Leaves 3 to 5 lobed, the lobes oblong, blunt, generally untoothed. Flowers greenish yellow 5 to 6 mm in small, erect hairy clusters borne with the leaves. Fruits with horizontal wings.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Open woods, hedgerows and coppices.

When to see it

April and May.

Life History

Deciduous.

UK Status

Common as far north as Cumbria and Durham scarcer further north

VC55 Status

Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 562 of the 617 tetrads.

  • Dave Gamble
    Forest East Spinney
    03 May 2020
  • Graham Calow
    Cambridge Road, Cosby
    15 May 2016
  • David Gould
    The Spearwort Fields
    25 August 2018
  • egaten
    Huncote Enderby footpath
    16 October 2020
  • David Nicholls
    Dunton Gorse
    19 April 2018
  • stepgray4
    Wymeswold Woodland
    25 February 2021
    Buds are paired and grey/white in colour
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    18 April 2014
    buds bursting
  • stepgray4
    Great Merrible Wood
    01 May 2021
  • stepgray4
    Walton on the Wolds
    12 April 2021
    Flowers
  • David Gould
    The Spearwort Fields
    23 April 2017

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Field Maple
Species group:
Trees, Shrubs & Climbers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Sapindales
Family:
Sapindaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
439
First record:
01/07/1998 (John Mousley)
Last record:
26/04/2025 (Pugh, Dylan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.

Latest images

Latest records

  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    15 May 2014
    seeds developing
  • Graham Calow
    Hinckley Road Gravel Pit, Sapcote
    15 April 2008
    flowers emerging
  • Graham Calow
    Witherley
    27 May 2015
  • Graham Calow
    Higham on the Hill
    15 May 2015
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    10 May 2007
    Flowers and leaves
  • David Nicholls
    Burroughs Road, Ratby
    31 May 2013
  • Graham Calow
    Hinckley Road Gravel Pit, Sapcote
    29 August 2007
    Leaves and seeds
  • David Nicholls
    Thornton Reservoir
    30 September 2011
  • Graham Calow
    Sapcote
    21 September 2009
    Seds - 'keys'
  • David Nicholls
    Dunton Gorse
    19 April 2018
  • Ron.stevens
    Broughton Astley
    02 July 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Thornton Reservoir
    30 September 2011
  • Graham Calow
    Frolesworth
    10 May 2015
  • David Nicholls
    Highway Spinney
    05 May 2011
  • Graham Calow
    Wykin
    12 May 2015
  • David Nicholls
    Wirlybones Wood
    05 May 2012
  • Alan Semper
    Maple Country Park
    01 November 2011
  • Alan Semper
    Harby roadside
    27 October 2012
  • stepgray4
    Cloud Wood
    17 October 2020
  • AJ Cann
    Cold Overton
    17 September 2021
  • Alan Semper
    Harby roadside
    27 October 2012
  • Barbara Cooper
    Long Clawson
    26 May 2013
  • Graham Calow
    Broughton Road, Cosby
    14 April 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Main Road, Claybrooke Magna
    08 April 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Broughton Road, Cosby
    14 April 2016
  • Graham Calow
    Broughton Road, Cosby
    14 April 2016
  • AJ Cann
    Launde Big Wood
    24 September 2016
  • Saharima Roenisch
    Evington Park
    31 May 2017
    overall form