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Acer_platanoides - L.

Common Name Norway Maple, Harlequin Maple
Family Aceraceae
USDA hardiness 3-7
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Grows on all but very poor soils in Britain[17].
Range Europe, from Scandanavia to the Urals and the Mediterranean, east to W.Asia. Naturalized in Britain.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Acer_platanoides Norway Maple,  Harlequin Maple


(c) ken Fern, Plants For A Future 2010
Acer_platanoides Norway Maple,  Harlequin Maple

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Green. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring.Form: Rounded, Spreading or horizontal, Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of lolypop
Acer_platanoides is a deciduous Tree growing to 21 m (69ft) by 15 m (49ft) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 3. It is in flower from April to May, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.
It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Edible Uses

The sap contains a certain amount of sugar and can either be used as a drink, or can be concentrated into a syrup by boiling off the water[4, 105, 177]. The syrup is used as a sweetener on many foods. The concentration of sugar is considerably lower than in the sugar maples (A. saccharum)[2]. The tree trunk is tapped in the early spring, the sap flowing better on warm sunny days following a frost. The best sap production comes from cold-winter areas with continental climates.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

The leaves are packed around apples, rootcrops etc to help preserve them[18, 20]. The trees are fairly wind tolerant and are often used in to give protection from the wind in mixed shelterbelts[200]. They are fast-growing and rapidly produce a screen[200]. A rose coloured dye is obtained from the bark[57]. Wood - hard, heavy, fine grained. Used for small domestic items[4, 13, 46, 61].

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Firewood, Aggressive surface roots possible, Pollard, Screen. Of easy cultivation, it prefers a good moist well-drained soil but thrives in any soil[11, 17]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a sunny position but tolerates some shade[11, 200]. One report says that plants tolerate chalky soils[200], but another says that plants can develop chlorosis as a result of iron deficiency when they are grown in alkaline soils. Trees are very tolerant of atmospheric pollution[226]. The Norway maple is a quick-growing tree that has been widely planted in Britain and is more or less naturalized. There are many named forms that have been selected for their ornamental value[11]. Norway maple is a bad companion plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants[18, 20]. The leaves are seldom eaten or defaced by insects because the tree contains a sharp milky juice that they dislike[4]. Trees take 30 years to produce seed[98]. Special Features: Not North American native, Invasive, Naturalizing, Attractive flowers or blooms.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, it usually germinates in the following spring. Pre-soak stored seed for 24 hours and then stratify for 2 - 4 months at 1 - 8°c. It can be slow to germinate. The seed can be harvested 'green' (when it has fully developed but before it has dried and produced any germination inhibitors) and sown immediately. It should germinate in late winter. If the seed is harvested too soon it will produce very weak plants or no plants at all[80, 113]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on until they are 20cm or more tall before planting them out in their permanent positions. Layering, which takes about 12 months, is successful with most species in this genus. Cuttings of young shoots in June or July. The cuttings should have 2 - 3 pairs of leaves, plus one pair of buds at the base. Remove a very thin slice of bark at the base of the cutting, rooting is improved if a rooting hormone is used. The rooted cuttings must show new growth during the summer before being potted up otherwise they are unlikely to survive the winter. Cultivars can be budded onto rootstocks of the species. Any grafting is best carried out in September rather than February.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Afghanistan, Iran (north), Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan EUROPE: Finland, Norway, Sweden, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Russian Federation (European part), Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine, Former Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Romania, Spain, France

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

This plant can be weedy or invasive in Northeast/Wisconsin. In Connecticut (Norway maple) is invasive but not banned. In Massachusetts (Norway maple) is Prohibited.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Acer platanoidesNorway Maple, Harlequin MapleTree21.0 3-7 FLMHSNM203

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

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Botanical References

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Links / References

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Readers comment

   Mon Nov 19 01:43:13 2001

You should add the reproductive cycle on here.

   Wed Feb 19 16:59:22 2003

The very dense canopy inhibits the growth of any plant other than its own seedlings.

   Mon Aug 30 23:11:19 2004

Acer platanoides is an invasive species in North America and can be detrimental to the native community.

Zepigi Pessina Marinella   Sun Oct 29 2006

Il Forum dei Funghi e Fiori in Italia - Micologia e Botanica scheda

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Subject : Acer_platanoides  
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