As summer fades into autumn, one of the simple joys is watching the green leaves of deciduous trees transform into a blazing palette of yellow, orange, red and purple. Among the many maple tree species valued for fall color is the Norway maple (Acer platanoides). Though not the most spectacular, the Norway maple delivers a pleasing display of yellow foliage to usher in the autumn season.
Overview of the Norway Maple
Native to Europe and parts of Asia, the Norway maple was introduced to North America as an ornamental landscape tree. It has since naturalized across much of the eastern and central U.S. and Canada.
This deciduous maple grows 40 to 50 feet tall at maturity, with an oval or rounded crown up to 40 feet wide The leaves are opposite, 4 to 7 inches wide, with 5 or 7 pointed lobes In spring, the yellow-green flowers appear just as the leaves emerge. The paired winged seeds called samaras mature in fall.
The Norway maple is adaptable to various soil types and withstands pollution and urban conditions. It also has an aggressive root system and can self-seed prolifically, becoming invasive in some areas. For this reason, some states prohibit or restrict planting Norway maples.
Typical Fall Foliage Color
In autumn, most Norway maple trees put on a display of clear golden yellow foliage This cheerful yellow fall color typically develops in mid-autumn. It provides a pleasing backdrop to the vivid red and purple leaves of other maple species.
The intensity of fall color can vary depending on soil conditions, summer weather, genetics and other factors Some Norway maples may develop leaf colors in hues of orange-yellow Occasionally, the leaves may skip yellow and brown directly after frost. But most commonly, they turn a consistent, bright yellow.
While Norway maple isn’t the flashiest, it offers reliably cheerful fall color. The yellow leaves contrast nicely against the gray bark and complement evergreens or other trees with red foliage.
Why Fall Leaf Color Changes in Maple Trees
Maples and other deciduous trees owe their autumn rainbow of foliage colors to natural pigments present in the leaves. The main pigments are:
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Chlorophyll – Provides the green color in leaves through the growing season. As days shorten in fall, production stops.
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Carotenoids – Produce yellow, orange and brown colors. Present all season but revealed as green chlorophyll fades.
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Anthocyanins – Create bright red hues. Produced in autumn in response to sugars trapped in leaves and sunlight exposure.
As chlorophyll production winds down with cooler weather and less daylight, carotenoids shine through to create yellow and oranges. Red anthocyanins may also be produced if enough sugars remain trapped in the leaves.
Temperature, light levels, soil nutrition and genetics influence the precise leaf pigments made. This accounts for the variations in fall color not just among maple species, but even among individual trees.
Tips for Getting the Best Fall Color
Although Mother Nature ultimately determines the intensity of autumn foliage, you can take steps to encourage your Norway maple to achieve its best potential:
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Select cultivars bred for superior fall color like ‘Fairview’ or ‘Indian Summer’.
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Give the tree adequate water during dry periods in late summer and fall. Drought stress reduces color.
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Make sure the tree gets sufficient nitrogen fertilization in spring, but avoid excess nitrogen in fall.
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Plant in full sun for the brightest color development. Too much shade dilutes intensity.
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Remove competing branches and prune to open up the canopy to sunlight.
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Protect leaves from early frost damage by avoiding planting in low areas prone to cold pockets.
Even in years when the fall color may be less vibrant than hoped for, Norway maples offer other fine qualities as landscape specimens. Their strong branching structure provides winter interest along with spring and summer foliage.
Alternatives for Spectacular Fall Color
For more brilliant fall maple color, consider these top options that typically turn shades of red and orange:
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Red maple (Acer rubrum)
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Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
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Black maple (Acer saccharum subsp. nigrum)
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Autumn Blaze maple (Acer x freemanii ‘Jeffersred’)
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Amur maple (Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala)
Non-maple trees with excellent fall foliage include black gum, sweetgum, dogwood, sourwood, ash, oak, beech, tupelo and many more. Mixing varied species ensures an extended autumn color show.
So while the Norway maple may not have the most dazzling fall display, it earns a place in the landscape for dependable yellow foliage. Blending it with other trees promises a fuller spectrum of autumn’s painting.
Conditions that favor growth
Tolerates a wide variety of light and soil conditions. Seedlings establish quickly in deciduous forests.
About Norway maple (Acer platanoides)
The Norway maple (Acer platanoides) is a broadleaf deciduous tree that can grow up to 50 feet tall, makes a lot of seeds, and blocks out a lot of light. Native to Eurasia, it was introduced to the United States in the 1750’s. It was used as a street tree because it grows quickly and can handle poor soil and air pollution. In some communities, it was planted heavily when American elms were lost to Dutch Elm Disease. The dense shade of these trees reduces light availability for forest understory plants. The thick root system changes the nutrients that are available and stops other species from growing, which leads to fewer types of plants.
Norway maples produce dark green, deciduous leaves with 5-7 sharply pointed lobes. The leaves are opposite of each other along the stem. Greenish-yellow flowers in clusters are produced in April-May. Young bark is smooth. Mature bark is gray-brown with shallow, interlacing ridges and furrows. Fall color is yellow.
Norway maples are different from other maples because when a leaf petiole (stem) is pulled away from the tree, a white, milky sap comes out. White sap exudes from stem Photo: Lesli Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood. org.
Large quantities of paired winged seeds (samaras) are produced. The “wings” of the samara spread widely to nearly 180 degrees. Seeds mature in September-October and often remain on the tree into winter. Spreads to new areas by seeds and vegetative reproduction. Photo: Jan Samanek, Phytosanitary Administration, Bugwood. org Photo: Leslie Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood. org.
Best Maple Trees For Fall Color ️
What color is a Norway maple tree?
The fall color is bright gold but one of the types of Norway maple trees, Crimson King, develops deep reddish fall tones. One important piece of information about Norway maple trees regards its root system. Roots can become a hazard due to the huge number of surface roots the plant produces. Acer platanoides is hardy to USDA zones 4 to 7.
Is Norway maple a deciduous tree?
The lobed leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding yellow in the fall. Variegated Norway Maple is a dense deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other landscape plants with finer foliage.
Do Norway maples turn yellow in the fall?
Fall Foliage Another distinguishing feature of the Norway maple is its fall foliage. While sugar maples turn brilliant orange and red in autumn, Norway maple leaves turn pale yellow. So a predominance of yellows in the fall canopy indicates the presence of Norway maples.
How do you know if a Norway maple is a sugar maple?
Another distinguishing feature of the Norway maple is its fall foliage. While sugar maples turn brilliant orange and red in autumn, Norway maple leaves turn pale yellow. So a predominance of yellows in the fall canopy indicates the presence of Norway maples. 5. Fast Growth