Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
While the beautiful maroon foliage of ‘Crimson King’ Norway Maple is gorgeous and a good choice in any landscape, this tree in general has developed an unfortunate reputation among arborists and horticulturists. These trees are becoming a nuisance in many home landscapes. They seed everywhere, driving out native plants in the area and hogging soil moisture where ever it is planted. Many of these experts feel that there are so many other Maples that are less trouble that the Norway Maple is no longer a good choice.
That said, the Norway Maple has been planted all over because it is a very attractive tree. The rounded crown fills with greenish-yellow flowers in the spring. The Norway Maple is attractive to many because it grows quickly, adding 15 feet to its height every five years or so when they are young. American homeowners like that. It is also handy because it is adapted to a wide variety of soils including alkaline. Is successful in urban areas where air pollution, poor drainage, compacted soil, and/or drought are common. It is happy in part shade or in full sun. In short, it is very accommodating to the urban and suburban environment and has been planted in large numbers.
The leaves have five pointed lobes and are from 4 to 7 inches across. Their edges are slightly toothed. Most Norway Maples have light green foliage that turns striking yellow in the fall. In fact its brilliant yellow fall color is unmatched by most trees.
Like many Maples, the Norway Maple has a shallow aggressive root system that competes with lawn grasses, and can lead to surface roots. The shallow roots can heave sidewalks so locate tree 4 to 6 feet from any sidewalk or driveway. The most serious problem is with the seeds germinating so easily. The seeds can spread throughout the community into parks and woodland areas and begin to seriously compete with other plants in those areas. That is what concerns the arborists and horticulturists. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do to prevent you Norway Maple from producing seeds and spreading them.
Norway Maple Choices -
Crimson King is oval, 45 feet tall, foliage purple during the summer, turning to paler maroon or reddish bronze in the fall. Crimson Sentry reaches a height 25 and spread 15 feet. Compact and dense, pyramidal to oval. Deep purple foliage in summer and fall color is maroon to reddish-bronze. Drummondii has leaves edged in white. Schwedleri is oval, 45 feet tall, foliage reddish in the spring then becoming green. Deborah grows to a height of 45, spread 40 feet. Broadly oval to rounded. Foliage is reddish-purple in the spring, becoming dark bronze-green in the summer and then bronze in the fall. Better than Schwedleri. Globe grows to a height of 15 feet and spread of 18 feet, wider than tall, shape is dense and round. Fall color is yellow. A very formal looking tree. Superform reaches a height of 45 feet with spread of 40 feet. Broadly oval to rounded. Fall color is yellow. Very uniform in shape.
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
While the beautiful maroon foliage of ‘Crimson King’ Norway Maple is gorgeous and a good choice in any landscape, this tree in general has developed an unfortunate reputation among arborists and horticulturists. These trees are becoming a nuisance in many home landscapes. They seed everywhere, driving out native plants in the area and hogging soil moisture where ever it is planted. Many of these experts feel that there are so many other Maples that are less trouble that the Norway Maple is no longer a good choice.
That said, the Norway Maple has been planted all over because it is a very attractive tree. The rounded crown fills with greenish-yellow flowers in the spring. The Norway Maple is attractive to many because it grows quickly, adding 15 feet to its height every five years or so when they are young. American homeowners like that. It is also handy because it is adapted to a wide variety of soils including alkaline. Is successful in urban areas where air pollution, poor drainage, compacted soil, and/or drought are common. It is happy in part shade or in full sun. In short, it is very accommodating to the urban and suburban environment and has been planted in large numbers.
The leaves have five pointed lobes and are from 4 to 7 inches across. Their edges are slightly toothed. Most Norway Maples have light green foliage that turns striking yellow in the fall. In fact its brilliant yellow fall color is unmatched by most trees.
Like many Maples, the Norway Maple has a shallow aggressive root system that competes with lawn grasses, and can lead to surface roots. The shallow roots can heave sidewalks so locate tree 4 to 6 feet from any sidewalk or driveway. The most serious problem is with the seeds germinating so easily. The seeds can spread throughout the community into parks and woodland areas and begin to seriously compete with other plants in those areas. That is what concerns the arborists and horticulturists. Unfortunately, there is not much you can do to prevent you Norway Maple from producing seeds and spreading them.
Norway Maple Choices -
Crimson King is oval, 45 feet tall, foliage purple during the summer, turning to paler maroon or reddish bronze in the fall. Crimson Sentry reaches a height 25 and spread 15 feet. Compact and dense, pyramidal to oval. Deep purple foliage in summer and fall color is maroon to reddish-bronze. Drummondii has leaves edged in white. Schwedleri is oval, 45 feet tall, foliage reddish in the spring then becoming green. Deborah grows to a height of 45, spread 40 feet. Broadly oval to rounded. Foliage is reddish-purple in the spring, becoming dark bronze-green in the summer and then bronze in the fall. Better than Schwedleri. Globe grows to a height of 15 feet and spread of 18 feet, wider than tall, shape is dense and round. Fall color is yellow. A very formal looking tree. Superform reaches a height of 45 feet with spread of 40 feet. Broadly oval to rounded. Fall color is yellow. Very uniform in shape.
