An inconspicuous tree for much of the year, the field maple comes to life in autumn when its lobed leaves turn golden-yellow and its winged fruits disperse in the wind. Look for it in hedges and woods.
The field maple is a relatively small tree, often found in hedgerows and woodland edges. Its leaves turn a rich, golden-yellow in the autumn, but for the rest of the year, it is quite inconspicuous. It produces large, winged seeds that are dispersed by the wind in the autumn. It has recently become a popular tree for towns and cities as it is tolerant of pollution.
How to identify
Field maple has dark green, five-lobed leaves, which are smaller and have more rounded lobes than those of sycamore; they turn golden in autumn. Its small, yellow-green, cupped flowers turn to large, winged fruits when pollinated. The bark of field maple becomes corky with age.
Distribution
Widespread.
Did you know?
Traditionally, the wood of field maple was used for wood-turning, as a veneer and to make musical instruments, such as harps.
