Acer Campestre Elegant – Ornamental Field Maple – Huibers Elegant

Acer campestre ‘Elegant’ is a compact fast growing cultivar of field maple.

It has small, bright green leaves in spring that turn into a stunning display of autumnal colours principally orange and yellow hues.

The name comes from the ‘Elegant’ ascending structure of branches.

Recommended in an avenue or urban and street plantings.

Acer Campestre ‘Elegant’ (also known as the Field Maple ‘Elegant’ or ‘Huibers Elegant’) is a compact vigorous deciduous ornamental tree valued for its neat narrow and upright (elegant) shape.

Reaches an average height of 6 to 12 metres (up to 15m over time) with a tight, slender spread of 3 to 4 metres.

Features steeply ascending branches (roughly at a 45-degree angle) that form a narrow, oval, or columnar crown.

Small, glossy, 3- to 5-lobed dark green leaves emerge in spring and turn a rich golden-yellow or buttery-orange in autumn.

Small yellow-green flower clusters appear in April, followed by the classic winged maple samaras (flattened wings of fibrous, papery tissue) that ripen to red or green.

Grey-brown bark develops subtle corky ridges and furrows as the tree matures, adding winter interest.

Performs significantly better around closed or hard paving and compacted soil than many other field maple cultivars.

Thrives in full sun or partial shade and adapts to almost any soil type (clay, loam, sand, or chalk) provided it is reasonably well-drained.