Selecting the perfect hedge plant for the family garden requires special care. A variety of magnificent ornamental trees are infused with toxic substances that are harmful to curious children and pets. You can find out here whether this shortcoming applies to a field maple hedge.
Is a field maple hedge poisonous?
The field maple (Acer campestre) is harmless to humans and animals because, compared to other maple species such as the sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus) and ash maple (Acer negundo), it does not contain any toxic substances such as hypoglycin A.
Field maple is harmless to humans and animals
Some maple species rightly have a reputation for containing substances that are harmful to he alth. The focus is on hypoglycin A, which can be fatal for children, seniors, pets and horses if consumed in large quantities.
The research institute Instituts RIKILT Wageningen in the Netherlands wanted to know exactly and carried out an extensive field study among the most common maple species on the European continent. Regarding the toxic content, the researchers found the following:
- Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus): very toxic due to high concentration of deadly hypoglycin A
- Ash maple (Acer negundo): very poisonous, especially the seeds and sprouts
- Field maple (Acer campestre) and Norway maple (Acer platanoides): non-toxic
