Acer platanoides

Norway maple is a deciduous shade tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae) native to northeastern Europe.  It was introduced to North America in the 1700s as a shade tree. It is very cold hardy and can be found growing in Alaska.

The tree grows 40-50 feet tall or taller and has a similar spread with a rounded crown. It prefers full sun to partial shade and tolerates a wide range of soils as long as they are well-drained and moist. 

This tree is easy to grow and has been used in urban areas as a shade or street tree. It tolerates heat,cold,  drought, urban conditions, and pollution. Cultivars of this tree also freely self-seed.

This tree has been labeled as invasive in several northeastern states. It prevents plants from growing under it due to a shallow root system, freely self-seeds and out-competes native trees. Please choose a native maple. See suggestions to the left.

Quick ID Hints:

• opposite leaves
• 5-lobed with sharp points
• hairs in axils of veins
• finely furrowed bark
• milky sap when leaf stem is broken
• angle of attachments of the 2 nutlets: a straight line

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to verticillium wilt. Young tree bark may suffer from sun-scald or frost damage.  Its canopy is dense and it has shallow roots which make it very challenging to grown anything under the drip line of the tree.  It can be especially bothersome planted near sidewalks or walkways as it is messy and it self seeds easily becoming weedy in the landscape.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common maple diseases and insect pests.

VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I:  Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II:  Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University