Norway Maple
Acer platanoides
Climate Match for your location
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A large, fast-growing deciduous tree with dense, rounded canopy and attractive lobed leaves that turn golden yellow in fall. Small greenish-yellow flowers appear in spring before the leaves emerge.
Why grow it
Norway maple is a reliable shade tree for temperate climates, valued for its consistent form and relatively rapid establishment compared to slower-growing native maples. It tolerates a wider range of soil conditions and urban stress than sugar maple (Acer saccharum), making it useful where site constraints limit other options. However, growers should consider native alternatives like red maple or sugar maple where ecological context permits, as they offer comparable ornamental value with regional adaptation benefits.
Watch out for
Norway maple produces dense shade that inhibits understory growth and lawn establishment beneath the canopy. The tree's shallow, fibrous root system can compete vigorously with nearby plantings and may surface in compacted soil, complicating maintenance around the base.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Sapindaceae
Native Range
Northern Europe and western Asia
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A large, fast-growing deciduous tree with dense, rounded canopy and attractive lobed leaves that turn golden yellow in fall. Small greenish-yellow flowers appear in spring before the leaves emerge.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Norway Maple grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Norway maple is a reliable shade tree for temperate climates, valued for its consistent form and relatively rapid establishment compared to slower-growing native maples. It tolerates a wider range of soil conditions and urban stress than sugar maple (Acer saccharum), making it useful where site constraints limit other options. However, growers should consider native alternatives like red maple or sugar maple where ecological context permits, as they offer comparable ornamental value with regional adaptation benefits.
Watch out for
Norway maple produces dense shade that inhibits understory growth and lawn establishment beneath the canopy. The tree's shallow, fibrous root system can compete vigorously with nearby plantings and may surface in compacted soil, complicating maintenance around the base.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Sapindaceae
Native Range
Northern Europe and western Asia
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar canopy trees you might consider:
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