Valuable conclusions about its cultivation in the garden can be drawn from the characteristics of a tree. Familiarize yourself with the features that characterize Norway maple. You can find out here whether the popular maple species actually suits your gardening ambitions.
The Norway maple can grow up to 30m high
Botanical features - in a nutshell
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 features indicate correct planting, skillful care or successful propagation. The following overview thus 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: Norway maple (Acer platanoides Globosum)
- Deciduous deciduous tree with palmate leaves
- Distribution areas: throughout Europe up to an altitude of 1,000 m
- First-class tree with a growth height of 20 to 30 m, rarely up to 40 m
- Root system: Cardiac roots with predominantly shallow, near-surface spread
- Annual growth: 30 to 50 cm
- Flowering time in April with yellow-green flowers before the leaves sprout
- 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 stage its blossoms before the leaves sprout. This makes wild bees, butterflies and bumblebees extremely happy because they can harvest nectar here early in the year. The subtle spectacle 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 to perfection
The outstanding attribute of Norway maple is its unique display of splendor in autumn. Haven't the previous characteristics convinced you to include the Acer platanoides in your planting plan? Then find out more about the spectacular autumn colours:
- Yellow leaves at the top of the crown are the autumnal overture
- The initially yellow leaf color gradually intensifies into various nuances of orange
- In full sun, the yellow-orange color festival ends in furious red tones
- Gradual color development from tip to base makes the crown multicolored
The autumn foliage unfolds its optimum splendor of color 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, which remain at a growth height of less than 10 m, such as spherical maple, blood maple or spherical golden maple.
tips
The robust winter hardiness and pronounced longevity belie the pruning sensitivity of a Norway maple. 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. Acer platanoides usually no longer sprout from old wood.