Acer platanoides

Norway maple - As a popular street tree, this large native of Europe and western Asia grows rapidly in a wide variety of conditions while resisting drought, pollution, and pests. Where Norway maple flourishes, it often out-competes its valuable, indigenous relative, the sugar maple (Acer saccharum). The trees are similar in size, shape, flower, and fruit, but Norway maple has dark, furrowed bark and, generally, larger leaves. When cut, the leaf stems and leaf veins of Norway maple exude a milky sap, and its fall color is yellow, while sugar maple leaves turn red. [image: (c) New England Wild Flower Society/ Lisa Mattei]

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