The norway maple is a tree species native to Europe and West Asia. It is 20 to 30 m tall and has bright green, lobed leaves which turn yellow or red in the autumn. Introduced as an ornamental shade tree in the United States, it is now considered invasive. Outside its northern range, it can be short-lived and susceptible to disease and damage.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Acer platanoides, commonly known as the Norway maple, is a species of maple native to eastern and central Europe and western Asia, from Spain east to Russia, north to southern Scandinavia and southeast to northern Iran. It was introduced to North America in the mid-1700s as a shade tree. It is a member of the family Sapindaceae.
Acer platanoides is a deciduous tree, growing to 20–30 m (65–100 ft) tall with a trunk up to 1.5 m (5 ft) in diameter, and a broad, rounded crown. The bark is grey-brown and shallowly grooved. Unlike many other maples, mature trees do not tend to develop a shaggy bark. The shoots are green at first, soon becoming pale brown. The winter buds are shiny red-brown.
The leaves are opposite, palmately lobed with five lobes, 7–14 cm (2+3⁄4–5+1⁄2 in) long and 8–25 cm (3+1⁄4–9+3⁄4 in) across; the lobes each bear one to three side teeth, and an otherwise smooth margin. The leaf petiole is 8–20 cm (3+1⁄4–7+3⁄4 in) long, and secretes a milky juice when broken. The autumn colour is usually yellow, occasionally orange-red.
The flowers are in combs of 15–30 together, yellow to yellow-green with five sepals and five petals 3–4 mm (1⁄8–3⁄16 in) long; flowering occurs in early spring before the new leaves emerge. The fruit is a double samara with two winged seeds. the seeds are disc-shaped, strongly flattened, 10–15 mm (3⁄8–5⁄8 in) across and 3 mm (1⁄8 in) thick. The wings are 3–5 cm (1+1⁄4–2 in) long, widely spread, approaching a 180° angle. It typically produces a large quantity of viable seeds.
Under ideal conditions in its native range, Norway maple may live up to 250 years, but often has a much shorter life expectancy; in North America, for example, sometimes only 60 years. Especially when used on streets, it can have insufficient space for its root network and is prone to the roots wrapping around themselves, girdling and killing the tree. In addition, their roots tend to be quite shallow and thereby they easily out-compete nearby plants for nutrient uptake. Norway maples often cause significant damage and cleanup costs for municipalities and homeowners when branches break off in storms as they do not have strong wood.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Norway maple thrives best in full sun, where it receives at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. This exposure optimizes its growth and health, enhancing its lush foliage and structural form. Despite its preference for abundant light, norway maple exhibits a respectable tolerance to partial sun environments, adjusting its growth patterns to cope with lesser light. In such conditions, however, it may develop a less dense canopy and show reduced vigor. Outdoors, norway maple should be planted in a location that is unobstructed by buildings or taller vegetation to maintain its light requirements. Its adaptability to light conditions makes norway maple a versatile choice for a variety of landscape settings.
Temperature
The norway maple has good cold resistance and is able to tolerate low temperatures. The norway maple is native to the margins of forests in China, Japan, and North Korea, so these trees generally prefer a humid environment. Most norway maple plants have shallow root systems, so they should be watered frequently during the summer. For some varieties, a sprayed mist should be provided during the summer to increase the humidity of the air around them.
Watering
Originating from a temperate climate, norway maple is accustomed to moderate moisture levels and can withstand short periods of drought. This species thrives with a balanced approach to hydration, neither too wet nor too dry, ideally watering once every 1-2 weeks. As an outdoor-grown deciduous tree, norway maple’s water needs fluctuate with the seasons, requiring more during its active growth in spring and less as it prepares for dormancy in fall.
Soil
The norway maple does not have many specific requirements for soil. It is a forest native, so it prefers well-drained soil that is rich in humus and slightly acidic. Its main root will extend deep into the soil, but its tiny fibrous roots will be concentrated near the soil surface, so accumulated water in the soil tends to cause root rot.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing norway maple boosts health and vigor, enhancing leaf color and growth. Use balanced fertilizers annually in early spring; if growth is slow, apply high-nitrogen supplements sparingly. Avoid over-fertilization which can harm norway maple and the environment. Adjust for life stages – young norway maple benefit from frequent feeding, mature ones less so. Apply as directed, ensuring even distribution and water in well.
Pruning
Pruning is mainly used to enhance internal ventilation, improve shoot formation, promote growth, and for shaping. The common approach to pruning is to remove any old or weak branches, remove any branches that disrupt the shape of the tree, and remove any branches that cross other branches. Pruning is used to control the plant according to the required height and shape. Generally, this follows the “Y-type” pruning method.
It is possible to prune a norway maple throughout the year, but the coldest winter months should be avoided to prevent damage to the plant. Major pruning to shape a maple can be performed following defoliation in the fall, or prior to leaf growth in the spring. It is recommended to prune in the fall because withered and full buds can be easily distinguished.
According to the shaping plan, you can prune any withered buds and keep the full ones, thus making your tree healthier. For pruning in the summer, diseased, weak, or dead branches can be removed, mainly to enhance the tree’s ventilation.
If grown as a potted plant, the roots can easily occupy the entire flowerpot due to the limited space. This can make a norway maple prone to aging if an old flowerpot is not changed. It is recommended that old roots are pruned during the dormancy period, that is, cut off any old, coarse, diseased, and weak roots.
Propagation
Norway maple, a widely planted shade tree, thrives with the correct propagation approach. Softwood cuttings taken in early summer root best when treated with rooting hormones and placed in well-drained soil mixtures. Maintain high humidity and consistent moisture levels to encourage rooting without causing rot or fungal growth. With care and attention, these cuttings can establish and grow into robust trees.
Transplanting
The perfect time to transplant norway maple is between late spring and midsummer, when the plant is actively growing. This will ensure a successful move. Choose a location with well-draining soil, and avoid transplanting during extreme temperatures.
III. Uses and Benefits
- Ornamental uses
Norway maple can be used as a lawn, park and street tree. It has been a popular choice for these areas due to its tall height, quick growth, and hardiness in a number of different growing environments. It is also prized for the heavy shade it produces. Coral bells, Vibrunion, Cotoneasters, and a variety of ferns will do well beneath these trees.
- Other uses
The wood is hard, yellowish-white to pale reddish, with the heartwood not distinct; it is used for furniture and woodturning. Norway maple sits ambiguously between hard and soft maple with a Janka hardness of 1,010 lbf or 4,500 N. The wood is rated as non-durable to perishable in regard to decay resistance. In Europe, it is used for furniture, flooring and musical instruments. This species as grown in the former Yugoslavia is also called Bosnian maple and is probably the maple used by the Italian violin makers Stradivari and Guarneri.
