Do you love your Norway Maple tree? This fast-growing tree lends itself to impressive sizes, has beautiful foliage throughout the summer and fall, and provides dense shade during the warmer months. However, this tree is also an invasive species in North America, and brings some detrimental qualities property owners will want to avoid. Substituting native maples, like sugar or red maple trees, for Norway maples is a great option for most properties.
Attributes of Norway Maple Trees
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) tends to grow between 40 and 60 feet tall, but can grow as large as 90 ft tall, depending on growth conditions. Its branches grow in an opposite arrangement. The young bark has an olive to light brown color that grays as it ages and gains regular, shallow grooves.
Typical bark appearance of a Norway maple tree
This tree has larger leaves than the sugar maple, sometimes as large as 10 inches across. In the fall, they turn vibrant yellow versus the burning reds and oranges of the sugar maple. These waxy dark green leaves are palmately lobed and opposite, usually having 5-7 sharp lobes. Popular cultivars in the nursery trade may also include variegated or purple leaves.
Leaves and seeds of a Norway maple tree
Although this tree has positive qualities such as being fast growing and it does well in harsh conditions, it also tends to have a number of complications, including being an invasive species.
Norway Maple is a Fast-Growing Invasive Species
Norway Maple Distribution Map from picturethisai.com
Norway Maple Reduces Native Maple Wildlife Depend Upon
Norway maples are considered an invasive tree species across the northeastern United States. Originally brought from Europe for their aesthetic values, Norway maples progressively began spreading from manicured lawns and gardens to wild areas, disrupting native flora communities. Their fast-growing nature helps them out-compete native sugar maple (Acer saccharum) or red maple (Acer rubrum). Since many native wildlife species evolved over tens of thousands of years to reply specifically on native maple species, an invasive species like Norway maple disrupts food and shelter availability various wildlife depend on. With more invasive species, animals will have less of the native habitat and food sources they thrive on.
Norway Maples Crowd Out Native Species & Break Easily
Norway maple also has a number of structural tendencies harmful to itself and surrounding flora. The Norway maple’s shallow, aggressive root system can prevent other plants, including grass, from growing underneath it. It also has a tendency to girdle competing plants - even the parent tree itself! This tree also tends to have weak unions and brittle wood. Due to its frequently poor structure, it carries increased risk of breaking in high winds and big storms.
Norway Maple Trees Need Regular Inspection and Care
The fast growth rate of Norway Maples tends to result in long, limby branches with weak wood. This structural tendency increases the risk of branch failure during heavy winds and storms, and therefore increases the risk to structures under or nearby. Wise property owners will hire a trained arborist to do regular structural inspections and pruning (if warranted) every 3-5 years to maintain the structure and well-being of this tree.
Should Property Owners Keep Norway Maple Trees?
Should you feel bad for loving this tree? No! Although Norway Maples are invasive trees that negatively affect native flora and fauna, we sympathize with the appreciation for their impressive size and beauty.
Maintaining Norway maple trees does require some foresight, however. Norway Maples got popular when they were first introduced because they have some good features (thrive in poor conditions, grow fast, etc), were subsequently over-planted, and now the next generation is discovering the issues. How do we deal with Norway maple in this context?
If you have a large/mature Norway maple tree, take care of it. There are still benefits to large old trees, even “problem” species like Norway maple. This is where an arborist can assist with maintaining their health. Regular pruning and potentially cabling (see image below) will help mitigate some of the weaknesses of this tree so you can enjoy it while it lasts.
If you have small Norway maple trees, consider replacing them with something more appropriate.
Please don't plant Norway maple trees! There will always be plenty of them growing from seed in our forests, and we have better native maple choices available, such as a sugar maple (Acer saccharum) or red maple (Acer rubrum), that have even more brilliant fall colors and benefit our local ecosystem more.
An example of cable support. Here, cables support two Red oak trunks to prevent breakages during high winds or snow loading.
Native Trees You Should Consider Planting
When creating space for new trees, consider planting more native species to support wildlife. Biodiversity is essential for a balanced ecosystem, and native plants play a crucial role in this preservation. They are adapted to local conditions, providing vital food and shelter for various species, including birds, insects, and mammals. Native plants require less maintenance than non-native varieties and their extensive root systems help stabilize soil, preventing erosion and improving soil health. By incorporating native plants into your yard, you contribute to local biodiversity while enjoying easier and more sustainable landscaping.
A few native trees you should consider to replace or in lieu of Norway Maple include:
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) or Red maple (Acer rubrum)
River birch (Betula nigra)
Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
American Larch (Larix Laricina)
There are so many other wonderful trees that add value to our landscape. If you’re looking to plant something new, take a look at our nursery, which is full of native tree species!
Summary
Loving your Norway Maples makes sense! This tree is beautiful. If you have questions about how to manage your tree, have one of our certified arborists out to go over any concerns and create a care plan to enhance and prolong its life, or to have it removed to make space for a new tree!