Acer campestre
Hedge maple
(c) Peter O'Connor, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Sapindaceae · Type: Shrub / Tree · Not Native
Acer campestre (Hedge maple) is a non-native California shrub / tree in the Sapindaceae family, recognized by leaf size and lobe shape.
Hedge maple is a naturalized tree found in the San Francisco Bay Area in urban woodland at elevations around 200 meters. Flowering from March to April, this tree produces small greenish flowers with petals 2 to 3 millimeters long that appear after the leaves emerge. Growing up to 20 meters tall with a spreading form, it develops rounded branches and distinctive foliage. Its leaves are 5.5 to 7.5 centimeters long and 7 to 10 centimeters wide, featuring 3 to 5 rounded lobes that extend about one-third to two-thirds of the leaf length, with soft green surfaces and ciliate margins. The fruit develops distinctive winged seeds that spread at an angle between 160 to 200 degrees.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; distinguished by leaf size and lobe shape
Habitat and range
Habitat: Urban woodland
Elevation: 200 m
Outside California: native to Europe, southwestern Asia
Bloom period
Acer campestre blooms Mar-Apr.
How to tell it apart
vs Platanus: Maple fruits are paired helicopters; sycamore has hanging ball-like seed clusters and peeling bark.; vs Liquidambar: Maple fruits split into two wings; sweetgum has spiky round seed balls and star-shaped leaves with pointed lobes.; vs Quercus: Maple leaves have palmate veins radiating from base; oak leaves have pinnate veins branching from midrib.; vs Fraxinus: Maples have simple lobed leaves; ash has compound leaves with 5-9 separate leaflets arranged feather-like.; vs Morus: Maple fruits are dry winged samaras; mulberry produces fleshy blackberry-like fruits and has milky sap.
Frequently asked questions
Is Acer campestre native to California?
No. Acer campestre is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Acer campestre bloom?
Acer campestre blooms Mar-Apr.
What plant family does Acer campestre belong to?
Acer campestre is in the Sapindaceae family, genus Acer.
What habitat does Acer campestre grow in?
Acer campestre grows in Urban woodland.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.