Norway Maple

Norway Maple - Acer platanoides

Description

Large spreading tree to 30 metres. Leaves large, 10 to 15 cm across, palmately 5 to 7 lobed, the lobes long pointed with a few coarse teeth. Flowers yellowish green 7 to 8 mm in broad erect panicles, before the leaves. Fruit with horizontal wings. In Autumn the leaves often become very colourful, with pink, red, orange and yellow.

Similar Species

Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) has a similarly shaped leaf but lacks the spiky edges.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Woods and hedgerows.

When to see it

April and May.

Life History

Deciduous.

UK Status

Local in Britain and probably mostly from planted stock.

VC55 Status

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 30 of the 617 tetrads.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Additional images

All NatureSpot records

Photo of the association

Periphyllus aceris

Periphyllus aceris aphids live on the underside of Acer species, especially Norway Maple, but also on Field Maple. The alates (winged adults) have widely separated broad black bands on the abdomen which helps with identification. The alate body length is  3.2 to 4.5 mm.  The apterae (wingless forms) are yellow-green and can be much more difficult to identify to species.

Photo of the association

Norway Maple Periphyllus Aphid

The Norway Maple Periphyllus Aphid (Periphyllus lyropictus) can be found in large colonies on the underside of Norway Maple leaves. The apterae are usually yellowish or yellowish-green with brown dorsal markings and have long hairs on th body.

Photo of the association

Etainia sericopeza

The larva of the moth Etainia sericopeza mines the seeds (samaras or 'keys') of Norway Maple, forming a short gallery starting in the wing and mining into the seed itself.

Photo of the association

Stigmella aceris

The larva of the moth Stigmella aceris mines the leaves of Field Maple and Norway Maple making a gallery mine almost filled with coiled greenish frass; later on the frass darkens.

Photo of the association

Phyllonorycter joannisi

The larva of the moth Phyllonorycter joannisi mine the leaves of Norway Maple creating a large tentiform mine. Sometime there are more than one mine per leaf. The lower epidermis appears smooth or with several small creases.

Photo of the association

Caloptilia semifascia

Caloptilia semifascia is a small moth with a wingspan of 10 to 12 mm. The angled light streak starting at the leading edge of the forewing is characteristic, but it can be obscured on darker specimens. The larva mines the leaves of Sycamore, Field Maple and Norway Maple. The early mine is a gallery leading to a squarish blotch. It later forms up to three successive tubes or cones by folding the tips of leaves downwards . The moth must be bred to identify to species.

Photo of the association

Aceria platanoidea agg.

Aceria platanoidea agg. mites cause an erineum to form on Norway Maple, usually on the leaf underside.  The mites live amongst the hairs of the erineum, which is pale to begin with and brown later; the individual hairs (use a hand lens) are mushroom shaped.  There is a corresponding blotch on the upper leaf-surface.