By Steve Taylor
Many people believe that Norway maple wood was used by Stradivarius for the backs of his violins. What was good for Stradivarius is not so good for North American forests. A native of Europe and western Asia, Norway maple (Acer platanoides was originally introduced into North America by John Bartram in 1756. George Washington planted Norway maples from Bartram’s Philadelphia nursery in his Mount Vernon garden in 1772.
In the 1950-60’s, Norway maples were widely planted as street trees replacing American elms killed by Dutch elm disease. As with many things that seemed like a good idea at the time, this was not. Norway maples produce huge numbers of shade-tolerant seedlings. With their shallow, dense fibrous root system, they out-compete many native species. In Europe, their lifespan is up to 250 years, but in North America they only live about 50 to 60 years. Norway maples are fast-growing and do not have particularly strong wood. Branches frequently succumb to storms. Their shallow root systems wreak havoc on sidewalks. Cleanup and repair costs are additional negatives. These characteristics have put Norway maples on the banned lists in New Hampshire and Massachusetts and the invasives species lists in many other states, including New Jersey.
Norway maples are sometimes confused with Sugar Maples (the good guys), because the leaves are very similar. The pairs of winged seeds (called samaras) of Norway maples are inline, while sugar maple seeds meet at an angle. The big tell is that the sap from the leaves of Norway maples is milky, while Sugar maples have clear sap.
Norway maples should not be planted. If you are a guerrilla gardener and find a fast growing great looking maple sprouting in a corner of your yard, look for the milky leaf sap before you transplant it to a prime spot. If it is a Norway maple, rip it out.
References:
Wikipedia – Norway Maple
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_platanoides
Laidback Gardener - Norway Maple: the Great Invader!
https://laidbackgardener.wordpress.com/2015/04/08/lets-ban-norway-maples-in-eastern-north-america/
North American Native Plant Society – Norway Maple
http://www.nanps.org/index.php/conservation/alien-invaders
Many people believe that Norway maple wood was used by Stradivarius for the backs of his violins. What was good for Stradivarius is not so good for North American forests. A native of Europe and western Asia, Norway maple (Acer platanoides was originally introduced into North America by John Bartram in 1756. George Washington planted Norway maples from Bartram’s Philadelphia nursery in his Mount Vernon garden in 1772.
In the 1950-60’s, Norway maples were widely planted as street trees replacing American elms killed by Dutch elm disease. As with many things that seemed like a good idea at the time, this was not. Norway maples produce huge numbers of shade-tolerant seedlings. With their shallow, dense fibrous root system, they out-compete many native species. In Europe, their lifespan is up to 250 years, but in North America they only live about 50 to 60 years. Norway maples are fast-growing and do not have particularly strong wood. Branches frequently succumb to storms. Their shallow root systems wreak havoc on sidewalks. Cleanup and repair costs are additional negatives. These characteristics have put Norway maples on the banned lists in New Hampshire and Massachusetts and the invasives species lists in many other states, including New Jersey.
Norway maples are sometimes confused with Sugar Maples (the good guys), because the leaves are very similar. The pairs of winged seeds (called samaras) of Norway maples are inline, while sugar maple seeds meet at an angle. The big tell is that the sap from the leaves of Norway maples is milky, while Sugar maples have clear sap.
Norway maples should not be planted. If you are a guerrilla gardener and find a fast growing great looking maple sprouting in a corner of your yard, look for the milky leaf sap before you transplant it to a prime spot. If it is a Norway maple, rip it out.
References:
Wikipedia – Norway Maple
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_platanoides
Laidback Gardener - Norway Maple: the Great Invader!
https://laidbackgardener.wordpress.com/2015/04/08/lets-ban-norway-maples-in-eastern-north-america/
North American Native Plant Society – Norway Maple
http://www.nanps.org/index.php/conservation/alien-invaders