A native maple tree can be easily distinguished from other tree species by its hand-shaped, lobed leaves. Identifying individual maple species is becoming more difficult. Do you want to show off your in-depth knowledge on your next walk and call every maple by name? Then delve into this guide to the distinguishing features of maple leaves.

The leaf tips of the field maple are rounded

Sycamore, Norway and field maple - unmistakable leaf shapes

The three most common maple species in our forests are well known to us thanks to their spectacular autumn colours. Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), Norway maple (Acer platanoides) and field maple (Acer campestre) can be clearly distinguished from each other by their characteristic leaf shapes:

  • Sycamore maple: 5-lobed, serrated leaf margin, dark green above, grey-green below, 20 cm long, 15 cm wide
  • Norway maple: 5 to 7 lobes, protruding tips, up to 18 cm long, extra long leaf stalk, smooth leaf edge (never sawn)
  • Field maple: double-lobed, green, 3 to 5 lobes, smooth leaf margin, velvety hairy underneath

European maple species have passed on their beautiful leaves to the varieties that have emerged from them. The popular maple Globosum cannot deny the Norway maple as its progenitor. The yellow speckles on the foliage of the Leopoldii variety do not yet reveal the parentage. The 5-lobed hand shape of the leaves reveals without a doubt that the sycamore maple was the inspiration here.

Slotted leaves reveal Asian maple species

Asian maple species are very popular because they thrive less extensively than their European counterparts. Characteristic of the numerous varieties are deeply slit leaves, which are composed of 5 to 11 pointed lobes. The foliage is serrated at the edge, which rules out any confusion with European maples.

A closer look requires the identification of the Japanese Japanese maple, whose compact varieties stage themselves in pots on balconies and terraces. The leaves have 5 lobes and are sinuate, which complicates the differentiation from native maple species. The key distinguishing feature is the red petiole, which clears all doubts.

tips

During the leafless season, some maple species reveal their name based on their bark. Japanese maple sangokaku boasts coral red shoots in winter. Sycamore can be distinguished by its grey-brown, rough and scaly bark. The bark on Norway maple shows prominent longitudinal cracks. Typical of the Japanese maple are light vertical stripes in the brown bark.

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Trees