Norway Maple

Aceraceae

LIFE FORM: Tree

NATIVITY: Northern Europe

VEGETATIVE CHARACTERISTICS:

40 to 60 feet tall; opposite, dark green leaves; typical maple shape; yellow fall color; petiole exudes milky sap when broken.

FLOWERS:

Clusters of bright greenish-yellow flowers in early spring before leaves.

FRUIT/DISPERSAL AGENTS:

Paired, wind-dispersed samaras with wings that spread apart at 180 degrees; relatively flat compared to other maples.

ECOLOGICAL PREFERENCE:

Seedlings germinate readily in the shade of other woody plants; neglected residential and commercial landscapes; woodlands that develop on abandoned open space; riverbanks; chain-link fence lines.

ENVIRONMENTAL FUNCTION:

Plants are highly adaptable; heat reduction in paved areas, salt tolerance along roadways; drought tolerance on compacted soils; air pollution tolerance; erosion control on slopes.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE:

Perhaps the most common street tree in eastern cities; purple-leaved cultivars are common. Introduced as an ornamental species. Invasive species in minimally managed habitats.