# Norway Maple (*Acer platanoides*) The Norway Maple has wide leaves and can grow very tall. It's a popular tree in parks and streets because of its shade! - **Category:** [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/tree) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 28 - **Habitat:** Urban areas and parks - **Also known as:** European Maple, Norway Sycamore ![Norway Maple](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426230/objects/4789.jpg) ## Appearance The Norway Maple has large, five-lobed leaves with pointed teeth, often a deep green that turns brilliant yellow in autumn. Its bark is smooth and gray when young, becoming furrowed with age, and it produces distinctive helicopter-like seeds. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Sapindales - **Family:** Sapindaceae - **Genus:** Acer ## Interesting facts - Break a leaf stem and you'll see milky white sap, unlike most other maple trees! - Despite its name, it's widely planted around the world, far beyond Norway's borders! - Its seeds are often called 'helicopters' because they spin as they fall to the ground. - The wood of some maples can be used to make musical instruments, like violins! ## Special abilities - **Allelopathic Advantage:** Norway Maple can release chemicals from its roots that inhibit the growth of nearby competing plants, helping it dominate habitats. - **Shade Conqueror:** Norway Maple has dense foliage that creates heavy shade, making it difficult for many other plant species to grow underneath its canopy. - **Milky Sap Defense:** Norway Maple has milky white sap that oozes when a leaf stalk is broken, which helps deter some herbivores and insect pests. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 20-30 m - **Spread:** 10-15 m - **Edible:** No - **Size:** 50-100 cm - **Lifespan:** 80-150 years - **Fruit Type:** Winged samara - **Growth Rate:** Medium - **Leaf Type:** Deciduous ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Maple Aphid (*Drepanosiphum platanoidis*) — Feeds on the sap from leaves. - **Symbiotic with:** Bicolor Deceiver (*Laccaria bicolor*) — Forms beneficial root associations for nutrient uptake. - **Pollinates:** Western Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits early spring flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Shelter:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — Builds nests in branches and uses tree for refuge. - **Eats:** Asian Longhorned Beetle (*Anoplophora glabripennis*) — Larvae bore into wood, causing severe damage. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Invasive](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/invasive): Invasive species are non-native organisms that cause harm to the environment, economy, or human health. ## Collections - [Trees](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/trees) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Norway Maple? Compare leaves or needles, how they attach to the twig, buds, bark and the shape of the crown. Lobed leaves are useful clues, but several unrelated trees share a similar outline. Tree Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Norway Maple? 20-30 m ### How wide does Norway Maple spread? 10-15 m ### Is Norway Maple edible? No ### How big is Norway Maple? 50-100 cm ### How long does Norway Maple live? 80-150 years ### Where is Norway Maple usually found? Urban areas and parks ### What kind of fruit does Norway Maple produce? Winged samara ## Where to spot - [Blackstone Boulevard–Cole Avenue–Grotto Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackstone-boulevard-cole-avenue-grotto-avenue-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Broadway-Armory Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-armory-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Carriage Paths, Bridges and Gatehouses](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/carriage-paths-bridges-and-gatehouses) — Maine, US · Historic District - [Cedar Brook Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-brook-park) — New Jersey, US · Park - [Chestnut Street District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chestnut-street-district) — Massachusetts, US · Historic District - [Customhouse Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/customhouse-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District [View all places to see Norway Maple](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/norway-maple) ## More Trees - [English Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/english-oak) (*Quercus robur*) - [Sessile Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sessile-oak) (*Quercus petraea*) - [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) - [White Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-oak) (*Quercus alba*) --- Source: [Norway Maple: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/norway-maple)