Norway Maple

Norway Maple

Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) is a deciduous tree native to Europe. It has waxy, dark green leaves with 5 to 7 lobes and yellow flowers. It is one of the first plants to leaf out in the spring and one of the last to drop its leaves in the fall. Norway maple forms a dense canopy, shading out other tree seedlings and inhibiting native forest regeneration. It also releases allelopathic chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants growing nearby. Norway maples produce seeds prolifically that can be dispersed over large areas by wind. 

Keys To Success

The size of the maple determines the treatment method that works best to eradicate it. Seedlings can be hand pulled, but if there is a dense mat of seedlings then a foliar application of systemic herbicide is appropriate. For a young to fully mature tree, cutting it down and painting the stump with herbicides is effective. When cutting the tree down is not an option, the hack-and-squirt method is recommended during the growing season and the basal bark method during the dormant season.