Fauna
Plant

Norway Maple

Acer platanoides

Also known as European Maple

Norway maples form exceptionally dense shade canopies that suppress understory plants and native tree seedlings beneath them. Broad five-lobed leaves break open in spring alongside yellow-green flower clusters that attract early pollinators before producing wide-winged paired samaras. Widely planted across North America as a tough urban shade tree, it frequently escapes cultivation to displace native forest species.

DeciduousTreeInvasive
Norway Maple reference1 / 7
(c) Ayotte, Gilles, 1948-, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Asian Longhorned Beetle
  • Aphids
  • White-Tailed Deer
ThreatsAsian longhorned beetle, verticillium wilt, powdery mildew
HabitatsTemperate deciduous forests, urban parks, roadsides, disturbed woodlands
Life span150–250 years
Classification
  1. OrderSapindales
  2. FamilySapindaceae
  3. GenusAcer
  4. SpeciesAcer platanoides
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Check for Milky Sap: Snip a leaf stem to reveal a clear milky latex unique among common maples.
  • Examine Seed Wings: Look for samara seed pods spreading horizontally at nearly a 180-degree angle.
  • Inspect Fall Foliage: Observe bright yellow leaf colors that linger late into autumn after native trees drop leaves.
Related species
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