Acer platanoides

Norway Maple

One of the densest shade trees, widely adaptable to soils and environments, including dry and polluted city conditions. Transplants easily. Extremely dense canopy and shallow root system make it impossible to maintain good turf beneath. Can be a weed problem, especially in cooler parts of the northeast US. Slight susceptibility to verticillium wilt, anthracnose, and leaf scorch. Can be damaged by 2,4-D drift. Does not perform well in southern US (warm nights severely retard growth). When Norway maple escapes cultivation and invades natural areas it reduces species richness and native tree regeneration by out-competing other trees and understory species for resources, creating dense shade canopies, and spreading rapidly through high seed production. It also releases toxins that reduce the growth and reproduction of native species.