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Maple, Norway (Acer platanoides)

Introduced in the 17th century, the handsome Norway maple is known for its hardy timber. Its leaves are a favourite with caterpillars and its seeds are eaten by birds and small mammals.

Norway maple can grow up to 25m tall.

Credit: Nature Photographers Ltd / WTML

Its leaves are palmate with five lobes with a few pointed teeth.

Credit: Nature Photographers Ltd / WTML

It has bright green flowers growing in clusters of up to 30.

Credit: M & J Bloomfield / Alamy Stock Photo

Its bark is grey with fine ridges.

Credit: Nature Photographers Ltd / WTML

Once pollinated, its flowers develop into winged seeds known as samaras.

Credit: Tim Gainey / Alamy Stock Photo

Leaves usually dark green, turn glorious autumnal shades before the fall.

Credit: Our Wild Life Photography / Alamy Stock Photo

Leaves fade to orange and occasionally red before falling in autumn.

Credit: Ernie Janes / Alamy Stock Photo

It is widely planted as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens.

Credit: Nigel Cattlin / Alamy Stock Photo

Norway maple was introduced to the UK in the 17th century.

Credit: Nigel Cattlin / Alamy Stock Photo

A number of moth caterpillars feed on the leaves of Norway maple.

Credit: Clare Gainey / Alamy Stock Photo

Quick facts

Common name: Norway maple

Scientific name: Acer platanoides

Family: Sapindaceae

Origin: non-native

Norway maple is a deciduous broadleaf tree and can grow to 25m. The bark is grey with fine ridges, and the twigs are slender and brown with tiny white spots.

Look out for: leaf stalks which ooze a milky sap when squeezed.

Identified in winter by: individual buds that are green and red.

What does Norway maple look like?

Credit: Our Wild Life Photography / Alamy Stock Photo

Leaves

Palmate with five lobes with a few pointed teeth. They are usually dark green in colour, fading to yellow and occasionally red before falling in autumn.

Credit: M & J Bloomfield / Alamy Stock Photo

Flowers

Bright green flowers grow in clusters of up to 30.

Credit: Tim Gainey / Alamy Stock Photo

Fruits

Once pollinated by insects, female flowers develop into winged seeds, known as samaras, which fall in autumn and are spread by wind.

Not to be confused with:

Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus). The angle of the seeds is wider in Norway maple.

Trees woods and wildlife

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Did you know?

Norway maple is the most common tree in Toronto, Canada.

Where to find Norway maple

Norway maple was introduced to the UK from its native range of eastern and central Europe in the 17th century. It can be found in the UK as a street tree and is widely planted as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens due to its tall trunk and tolerance of compacted soils, shade and pollution.

Value to wildlife

A number of moth caterpillars feed on the leaves, and the flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other insects. Birds and small mammals eat the seeds.

These trees are widely planted in towns and cities.

Credit: Nigel Cattlin / Alamy Stock Photo

Did you know?

Like other maples, Norway maple can be tapped for its syrup.

Uses of Norway maple

Norway maple timber is similar to that of sycamore, being hard, strong and pale cream in colour. It may be used for a variety of situations, including furniture and turnery. However it is not often grown commercially due to problems associated with grey squirrels, which strip the bark.

Trees are also planted widely in towns and cities, thanks to their ornamental value and tolerance of shade and pollution.

Threats and conservation

Norway maple is affected by a variety of fungal diseases, including verticillium wilt and honey fungus. It is vulnerable to bark stripping by grey squirrels, horse chestnut scale insect and horse chestnut leaf miner.