The Pros & Cons of Planting Norway Maple Trees

Pros

• Norway maple grows successfully in a wide range of soil and climatic conditions, making it among the fast-growing maples -- or shade trees, for that matter -- for U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 7. Any fertile, well-drained soil suffices, and this maple tolerates the compacted soils and air pollution usually encountered in urban settings along roadways. The tree becomes densely branched, with an attractive rounded silhouette even in winter, and casts dense shade.

Cons

• The size of a mature Norway maple predisposes it to potential problems. It usually grows too large for a residential yard, and its rather shallow root system does lift and buckle sidewalks, patios and roadways. The comforting shade cast by the tree in summer chokes out any turfgrass below, and the large production of seeds by the Norway maple makes it a weedy tree that requires constant raking or seedling pulling. In some parts of the northern United States, Norway maple is considered by horticulturists as an invasive species and isn't recommended for planting. The wide-spreading branches make it difficult to drive under if planted too closely to the street's edge.

Cultivars

• Several cultivated varieties exist that may prove better choices for use in some landscape applications. Upright-shaped cultivars, such as Erectum and Emerald Queen, are better suited to growing along boulevards, while Crimson King and Drummondii are slower-growing compared to the wild species, making them better in areas where longevity is wanted. Fall foliage color varies widely among cultivars, with some not attaining yellow colors but rather disappointing bronze or dull purple hues. The fall color-up can occur quite late in fall, leading to a limited display before hard freezes cause massive leaf drop.

Growing Insight

• Norway maples perform best in regions where the summers are not too hot, although cultivar Summershade demonstrates the best tolerance to heat. Any cultivars with purple foliage tend to do poorly in soils that are alkaline. Verticillium wilt often inflicts Norway maples, and if aphids proliferate on a tree, messy honeydew drops onto cars or sidewalks below. The honeydew can turn black once sooty mold spores grow on the leaf surfaces or ground.