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Norway maple

A commonly planted street tree with leaves that looks much like the maple that is pictured on the Canadian flag.

What other names does it have?

Generic name	Maple
Latin name	Acer platanoides
Family name	Maple
Latin family name	Aceraceae

What type of tree is it?

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a broadleaf
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	Yes, it is deciduous

Species description:

Average height	12-25m

Leaf

Description	Each of the five main lobes has a few distinctly pointed teeth/serrations. Giving the leaf a spiky look
Shape	Palmate
Size	Around 15cm long and wide
Colour	Dark green
Colour of leaves in autumn	Often yellow and occasionally red
Leaf bud	Large and red-brown with a distinct point
Leaf stalk	Long stalk
Leaf arrangement	Opposite

Flower, seed, and fruit

Type of flower	Clustered/grouped flowers
Fruit colour	Greenish yellow ripening to brown
Type of seed body	Large winged seed/key
Seeds dispersed by	Wind

Bark and twig

Bark description	Grey with fine interlaced ridges
Twig Description	Slender brown twig, with tiny white spots

What other trees are similar?

Can easily be confused with?	Sycamore- this has leaves which are more rounded, not spiky.

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Non-native - naturalised
Where is its natural range?	Much of northern Europe from Scandinavia to the Caucasus
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	Tolerates a wide range of conditions
What is its British conservation status?	Occasional

Additional information

Human uses of tree and timber	Widely planted as an ornamental tree in parks, gardens and on streets as it tolerates pollution well.

Tree shape

Leaf and fruit

Illustrations supplied by
Collins

BritishTrees

©2012 The Woodland Trust