Harlequin Maple Acer platanoides
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser pla-tan-OY-dees
- Description
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Norway maple is a deciduous shade tree in the Sapindaceae (soapberry) family native to northeastern Europe. This large tree can reach a height and width of 50 feet so having a large enough area to accommodate it is important.
Prefers full sun to partial shade, a wide range of soils but must be well trained and maintain a medium moisture level.
An easy growing excellent shade or street tree that tolerates heat, drought, urban conditions, and pollution. It has a symmetrical, rounded crown and has been used widely as a tree in urban areas of the United States though it is not recommended for many areas now. It freely reseeds itself, so be aware you may be pulling up seedlings.
Cultivars may offer the best choice for landscaping. It is noted that this species should be given considerable room, as it covers large areas. Some cultivars of this plant have deep purple or maroon leaves. Shallow roots make it difficult to grow plants underneath. It is easy to transplant.
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
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Crimson King'
Red leaves, not well suite for the south - 'Crimson Sentry'
- 'Globosum'
Green, leathery leaves - 'Crimson King'
- 'Crimson King', 'Crimson Sentry', 'Globosum', 'Stand Fast'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Crimson King'
Red leaves, not well suite for the south - 'Crimson Sentry'
- 'Globosum'
Green, leathery leaves - 'Crimson King'
- 'Crimson King', 'Crimson Sentry', 'Globosum', 'Stand Fast'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- platanoides
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northeastern Europe
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Pieces Used in Games
- Shade
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- High
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- 1.5"-2" long horizontally spreading wings mature September to October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Insignificant
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Not remarkable, appear in spring before the foliage. One of most floriferous maples.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 7" across, with 5 sharply pointed lobes that look similar to a sugar maple. Petioles exude milky sap when broken. Fall color is an unremarkable yellow.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Black
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Children's Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
- Pollution
- Problems:
- Messy
- Weedy