Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)

How much light does a Norway Maple need?

Norway maple prefers full sun, meaning six or more hours of direct sunlight a day. Part shade is also listed as a condition it grows in. The listed light range runs from full sun to part shade. It is a deciduous shade tree in the maple family, with a moderate growth rate.

• Light: Full sun and part shade (full sun preferred)^1,2

How often to water a Norway Maple

Norway maple tolerates soil from dry to wet. The tolerated conditions include consistently moist, well-drained soil, occasional periods of dry soil, and occasionally saturated or very wet soil. The range runs from dry to medium at the low end and from medium to wet at the high end. Drainage is listed as well drained, with soil that is occasionally dry or occasionally wet.

• Water: Dry to wet²

Best soil for a Norway Maple

Norway maple grows in well-drained, moist soil. It also accepts soil that is occasionally dry or occasionally wet. The tolerated pH range is 5 to 8, from acid to alkaline soil. A pH of 5.0 sits at the acid end of that range, and 8.0 sits at the alkaline end. Taken together, the listing covers four drainage conditions and a pH span of three units. Overall, soil moisture can run from dry to wet.

• Soil drainage: Well drained, moist, occasionally dry and occasionally wet^1,2
• Soil pH: pH 5–8²

Hardiness and temperature

Norway maple is hardy in zones 3a–7b. The listing names ten zones: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b. Zone 3a is the coldest zone in the listing, and zone 7b is the warmest. No cited source records a minimum temperature for this tree. Humidity needs are not documented either.

• Hardiness: Zones 3a–7b¹

How to plant a Norway Maple

Choose a site in zones 3a–7b, where this tree is listed as hardy. Plan for a mature height of 40–60 ft (12.19–18.29 m). Plan for a mature spread of 30–50 ft (9.14–15.24 m). Full sun is the preferred exposure, with part shade also listed. Well-drained, moist soil with a pH of 5–8 matches the conditions listed for the tree. In the lower 48 US states, Norway maple is listed as introduced.

• Hardiness: Zones 3a–7b¹

Winter care

Norway maple is deciduous, and it is hardy in zones 3a–7b. Zone 3a is the coldest end of the listed range. Zones colder than 3a fall outside that range. No cited source records a minimum temperature. The zone range is the only cold limit on file. Winter protection advice is not documented for this tree.

• Hardiness: Zones 3a–7b¹

Common problems

The pests listed for Norway maple are aphids, gall mites, Japanese beetle, Asian longhorned beetle and spotted lanternfly. Honeydew from aphids can be a nuisance in some years, though the tree is rarely harmed. The diseases listed are tar spot, anthracnose and verticillium wilt. The tree is described as tolerant of verticillium wilt.

• Common pests: aphids, gall mites, japanese beetle, asian longhorned beetle and spotted lanternfly^3,4
• Common diseases: tar spot, anthracnose and verticillium wilt²

Questions and answers

How big does a Norway maple get?

It reaches a mature height of 40–60 ft (12.19–18.29 m). Its spread is 30–50 ft (9.14–15.24 m). The growth rate is moderate, and the tree is deciduous.

Does Norway maple grow in shade?

Part shade is listed, alongside full sun, which is the preferred exposure. Full sun means six or more hours of direct sunlight a day. The listed range runs from full sun to part shade.

What soil does Norway maple tolerate?

It tolerates well-drained, moist soil with a pH from 5 to 8. It also accepts soil that is occasionally dry or occasionally wet. Overall, soil moisture can run from dry to wet.