Woodland Trust

Nature's CalendarNature Detectives

Get out into the woods this weekend - see what signs of spring you can spot!

field maplefield maple photo sue mallinson

Acer campestre

  • Often shrub-like in hedges
     
  • Can grow up to 20m tall
     
  • Hard green-brown, fissured bark
     
  • Leaves in April in opposite pairs, on a leaf stalk with milky sap
     
  • The lobed leaves show striking autumn colours and are much smaller than the related sycamore
     
  • Paired, winged fruits, like helicopter blades, are yellow-green tinged with crimson
     

Where found

The only native maple in the British Isles, found naturally in lowland England and Wales.
 record

When to look for

  • Flowers and leaves appear together April
     
  • Leaves drop in November