Field Maple

Field Maple 'Evelyn' (Acer campestre 'Evelyn'), also sold as Queen Elizabeth maple, is a deciduous shade tree with an upright oval crown reaching about 9m tall and 6m wide. The foliage turns a clean buttery yellow in autumn, then drops to let winter sun through. It is the tough end of the maple family: frost hardy, drought tolerant and content in poor soil.

Why you'll love it

• Reliable autumn colour. The whole crown turns warm yellow, and it colours dependably in cool and warm temperate gardens rather than only in alpine districts.
• An honest shade tree shape. Upright and oval rather than sprawling, so at 9m by 6m it shades a lawn or a driveway without dominating a suburban block.
• Tougher than most maples. Frost hardy, drought tolerant and poor soil tolerant, which is a rare combination in a tree grown for autumn colour.
• Low maintenance once away. No shaping, no staking beyond the first two years, and no spraying to keep the canopy presentable.

Where it works best

Shade trees and lawn specimens. One tree throws a broad pool of summer shade over a lawn or seating area, then lets the light back in over winter.

Driveways and avenues. Plant 1.5m apart for a clipped avenue or screen. If you want each tree to develop its natural crown instead, allow for the mature 6m width and space accordingly.

Deciduous hedging. It takes shearing well, so the same 1.5m spacing gives a tall deciduous hedge that holds structure through winter as bare twiggy growth.

Growing Field Maple in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the best autumn colour. It belongs in cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, and it is properly frost hardy, so tableland and southern districts suit it well. It is not a tree for tropical or subtropical humidity.

Soil. Adaptable and tolerant of poor soils, but it wants drainage. On heavy clay, plant slightly proud of the surrounding grade and mulch 75mm deep out to the drip line, clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers while the root plate develops, after which it handles dry spells well. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring suits most gardens.

Pruning. Prune in late winter while it is bare and the structure is visible. Remove crossing branches and lift the lower limbs gradually for clearance underneath; hedged plants are sheared in late summer instead.

What to expect when it arrives

We supply it in 45L and 100L containers, both advanced sizes with real height and a formed leader on arrival. The 45L is the practical choice for planting a row; a 100L tree gives presence that would otherwise take several years.

Being deciduous, a tree delivered in winter arrives bare or nearly bare, which is normal and actually the best time to plant. Stake it for the first two years and expect steady rather than rapid growth. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and plants are delivered Australia wide with a minimum order of $300 before delivery and our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse the full deciduous tree range
• Compare options in autumn colour plants
• The best trees for lining driveways in Australia
• Evergreen or deciduous: which suits your garden

Common questions

How big will it really get?

About 9m tall and 6m wide in a garden setting, reached over a couple of decades rather than a few years. Allow that width when siting it near a boundary or a house.

Will it colour up in a mild climate?

Yes, it is more reliable than many maples in warm temperate gardens, though the yellow is deepest where autumn nights turn genuinely cold.

Can I use it as a hedge?

You can. Plant 1.5m apart and shear in late summer to build density. It loses its leaves in winter, so treat it as a structural screen rather than a year round privacy solution.

How close can I plant it to paving?

Give it a few metres of clearance, since any tree of this size can lift a slab if planted hard against it. Space is cheaper than repairs.