From the profile of a tree, valuable conclusions can be drawn about its cultivation in the garden. Here you can familiarize yourself with the characteristics that characterize the Norway maple. Find out here whether the popular maple species actually suits your gardening ambitions.
How is the Norway maple characterized?
The Norway maple (Acer platanoides) is a deciduous deciduous tree with palmate leaves that grows in Europe up to 1.000 m altitude is widespread. It reaches a height of 20 to 30 m, blooms in April and is hardy down to -32 degrees Celsius. Life expectancy is 150 to 200 years.
Botanical features – in brief
Important key data in the profile indicate whether you can include a Norway maple in your garden design without any ifs or buts. Other botanical characteristics indicate correct planting, skillful care or successful propagation. The following overview throws a meaningful spotlight on the attributes of the popular deciduous tree and its suitability as a house tree:
- Name: Norway maple, Norway maple (Acer platanoides)
- Best-known variety: ball maple (Acer platanoides Globosum)
- Summer green deciduous tree with hand-shaped leaves
- Areas of distribution: throughout Europe up to 1,000 m altitude
- First class tree with a height of 20 to 30 m, rarely up to 40 m
- Root system: Heart roots with predominantly flat, surface-level spread
- Annual growth: 30 to 50 cm
- Flowering in April with yellow-green flowers before the leaves emerge
- Winged fruits with cold-germinating seeds
- Hardy to -32 degrees Celsius
- Toxic: no
- Life expectancy: 150 to 200 years
The Norway maple is of particular ecological and decorative value because it is the only native maple species to display its flowers before the leaves emerge. This makes wild bees, butterflies and bumblebees extremely happy because they can harvest nectar here early in the year. The subtle display of flowers is also pleasing to the eye, as most of the other trees are still bare at this time.
Norway maple celebrates Indian summer in perfection
The outstanding attribute of Norway maple is its unique splendor in autumn. Have the previous characteristics not completely convinced you to include Acer platanoides in your planting plan? Then find out about the spectacular autumn colors:
- Yellow leaves at the top of the crown are the autumnal overture
- The initially yellow leaf color gradually intensifies into different shades of orange
- At the sunny location, the yellow-orange color festival ends in furious red tones
- Gradual color development from the tip to the base makes the crown shine in many colors
The autumn foliage displays its optimum color splendor in a combination of sunny weather and significant temperature fluctuations between day and night. You can also enjoy this season finale in the small garden and front yard. Beautiful cultivars have emerged from Norway maple that remain at a height of less than 10 m, such as ball maple, blood maple or ball gold maple.
Tip
The robust winter hardiness and pronounced longevity belie the sensitivity of a Norway maple to cutting. If you have ordered the tree to be pruned, please only cut shoots that are too long in the area of last year's growth. As a rule, an Acer platanoides no longer sprouts from old wood.
