Norway Maple

This tree is a Norway maple. Norway maples are a good example of invasive trees. Invasive means they are not native to this region; they have been successful at surviving and spreading outside of their native habitat, and they typically outcompete native species for the available resources.

Notice that this part of the forest looks different compared to other sections on the property because the planting of Scotch pines and other human activities disturbed this area previously. Otto Behrend, the original owner of the cottage that is now part of the Andrew J. Conner Nature Center, had Scotch pines planted here to line the driveway leading to the cottage, creating a beautiful and majestic entryway to his family’s summer home. In areas of high disturbance, where the land has been changed and native species have been removed, invasive species are often successful.

Norway maples are part of the same family as our native sugar and red maples, but were brought from Eurasia as an ornamental tree. A popular variety for neighborhood planting is called “Crimson King” because of its deep purple leaves. Norway maples grow their leaves about two weeks before sugar maples do, which means that they can start utilizing nutrients from the soil earlier than native maple species. That also means Norway maples create shade on the ground surrounding their trunk, which can kill young saplings that rely on the sunlight to grow.

Norway maples are tolerant of changing conditions and poor soil quality, so an area that has been planted with Scotch pine or changed in some other way allows them to be highly successful. As you look around, notice that non-native Scotch pines and Norway maples dominate this area.