Acer campestre

The common maple (Acer campestre) is a medium-sized tree that can usually reach a height of about 12 meters. Because of its irregular branching, it does not have a symmetrical crown. The branches are notable for their corky ridges, which are present on both old and young wood. When the young leaves sprout, a slight reddish tinge may sometimes be visible, but this soon changes to a deep green color. In fall, the leaves change to a beautiful dark yellow color, which can last a long time. The common maple is native to the Netherlands and has been used by people for a long time. Not only as a mature tree, but also in pruned form as a hedge, this plant is very functional. This is partly because the common maple tolerates shade and thrives in industrial areas, making it a versatile plant. It has a strongly branching main root system with many fine hair roots. Because the common maple is propagated primarily by seeding, some variation may occur in the offspring. This can manifest itself in different characteristics, such as variations in fall color and the presence of cork strips on the branches. Because of its excellent pruning tolerance, the common maple is also often used as a hedge plant. However, because of its early sap flow, pruning should never be done in the spring.