The super-modern polymer 20 dollar bills released in 2012 feature a Norway maple leaf next to the Queen’s portrait. Not content with outcompeting native species in forests, the Norway maple even made its way on Canadian currency. Norway maple even invades Canadian currency! The sugar maple is already under threat because of the warming climate, and gets easily outcompeted by the Norway maple in areas such as Montréal’s Mont-Royal parc, where a ban has been enforced since 2015. In Eastern Canada and a handful of US states, the Norway maple threatens the sugar maple and the maple syrup industry it supports. This is one of the reasons why controlling its spread is so difficult. Other jurisdictions do not go as far as an outright ban, but still consider the species to be invasive and have measures in place to limit its spread.ĭespite its classification as an invasive species, the Norway maple is still widely available for sale as a shade tree in many gardening centres. It does not affect already existing trees, but property owners have to make sure that the seeds are not allowed to develop into fully grown trees (mowing usually takes care of that). The ban means that transporting Norway maples into the state, or planting their seeds, is prohibited. The state of Massachusetts, for example, outright banned the Norway maple. Its fast growth and efficient use of nutrients allow it to outcompete local varieties, such as the sugar maple in the Eastern part of North America. The characteristics behind the Norway maple’s success are the same that earned it its reputation as an invasive species in many jurisdictions. When the rapidly spreading Dutch Elm disease deprived many cities of their shade trees during the 1930s and 1940s, the fast-growing Norway maple seemed the perfect replacement candidate. In addition, it is resistant to poor soils and pollution, which made it a seemingly perfect choice for cities wanting to line up their streets with trees. The tree grows fast and creates a thick canopy of leaves which makes it a perfect shade tree. But we will get back to that later.Īnother very important way in which the Norway maple has spread historically is by being actively planted by gardeners. In fact, the flowers, the seeds and the little branches falling from adult Norway maples are among the lesser reasons why gardeners dislike them. The characteristic “helicopter-like” seeds are very recognisable, and can cover large areas in a thick layer, when several adult trees are present. The Norway maple colonises new areas primarily through its seeds, of which it produces enormous amounts. In Norwegian, for example, it is called spisslønn (literally: pointy maple). It should be noted though that it has other names in other languages. Whatever the actual reason is, the name stuck and the variety is now widely known as the Norway maple. It has been theorised that the Norway maple got its name because it was introduced to Western Europe and Britain via Norway, in the 17 th century.Īt the time, Norway was an important centre for the trade of forestry products, and the theory goes that the tree found its way to Norway from Eastern Europe for that reason. From Greece and Northern Turkey in the South, to Southern Norway and Sweden in the North. In the wild, it is found in central Europe and western Asia, from the border between Spain in France in the West, to central Russia in the East. The species, also known by its scientific name Acer platanoides, likely originated in central and eastern Europe. Where is the Norway maple from?ĭespite what its name suggests, the Norway maple is not from Norway.

What has made this innocent-looking tree first so popular and then so reviled? Whether you're a nature enthusiast, a gardener, or simply interested in learning more about everything Norway, join us as we unravel the mysteries of the Norway maple. But despite its name, it has nothing to do with the country of the vikings. The Norway maple has been widely cultivated for its ornamental value, and is indeed found in the wild in Norway. Loved by some for its aesthetic qualities, hardiness and fast growth, it is disliked by others for some of the very same reasons. Few tree varieties arouse passions like the Norway maple does.

Norway maple leaves