A tree with 🌳︎ broadleaves arranged ╫ opposite, blade division=🍁︎ simple, margin=♧ lobed, 3-7 main veins radiating from 🍁︎ one point (✋︎ palmate), sinuses=∪ rounded (U-shaped), base=NOT ∪ rounded, wider than long, and leaf stem injury exudes white milky juice.
Native to 🇪🇺 Europe and western Asia.
Invasive > learn+quiz
Invasive > Global
Invasive > in USA+Canada
Invasive > report it!
Invasive > in USA
Invasive > in Michigan
In North America, often planted in new housing developments, one in each front yard, due to its excellent shade (which stays into Autumn), and nothing eats it. Unfortunately, it does not turn the pretty reds and yellows and oranges of the native maple trees. And it fails to feed the population of local native 🐝︎🐜︎🐛︎ insects, so your yard is relatively sterile!
Plant nurseries have created many
cultivars
, selecting for distinctive leaf shapes or colorations. For many varieties, during the first month of the growing season, the leaves are burgundy. Two of our authors have an Acer platanoides 'Schwedleri' or 'Crimson King' (marked as both? — we didn't plant it), which gives very nice color.
Ötzi the Iceman carried a container with freshly-picked Norway maple leaves, presumed to have insulated burning charcoal embers.[1]
References
[1]
South Tyrol Museum of Archelogy > Equipment section "Birch-bark containers"
retrieved 2017-02-10 by EP.