The field maple (Acer campestre) is spread throughout most of Europe; North America and West Africa is its natural growth area. Field maples are unique among maple trees: also called hedge maples, they grow solitarily and mostly do not exceed shrubs in size, even though they may grown to be 150 years old. When the field maple grows to tree-size, they provide very nice wood that is harder, denser, and has a finer texture than sycamore or norway maples. The color of the wood is yellow-brownish to gray-brown, it is close-grained it shines and has clearly visible texture. Due to its fine structure, it is one of the most desirable maple woods for turners and toy makers; it is used for bowls, dishes, and cutlery. Also pipe makers enjoy using field maple, especially the burls are sought after for the crafting of pipes.
