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Norway Maple, Acer platanoidesMany cultivars are available, including leaf colour variants, upright and globular-crowned forms. See also A.campestre and A.pseudoplatanus. Sources of seed and plants Introduced to Britain in 1683, it has been most commonly planted in southern England and south Scotland but also grows well in east Scotland. The best trees are found south of a line joining the river Mersey to the river Humber. Seed trees must have straight persistent stems and small branches. Silviculture A moderate shade bearer, occasionally planted pure, it grows best in mixture with beech, the oaks and limes and should also be tried in mixture with larch. It is much used on the edges of plantations. Soil types Grows best on deep soils over chalk and limestone but tolerates shallow soils; also succeeds on acid brown earths of moderate depth. Rate of growth and yield Young trees grow quickly with pairs of upward-slanting branches to give a rounded crown. In woodlands early thinning is essential to favour straight-stemmed trees and pruning to 6 metres is desirable. It grows at a similar rate to sycamore for 30 or 40 years and then is overtaken, but heights of 18 to 20 metres and stem diameters of 35 to 40 cms are common at 50 years. Not so long lived as sycamore. Protection and resistance The dense mass of foliage makes Norway maple suitable for screens and shelterbelts but it is less resistant than sycamore to salt laden winds. It is generally hardy to late spring frosts and resistant to atmospheric pollution so can be planted in towns and industrial areas. Norway maple is severely damaged by grey squirrels. Establishing and tending All common sizes of nursery stock establish well. Norway maple fruits and coppices moderately well. Timber properties The timber is in all respects similar to that of sycamore. Amenity value A handsome ornamental tree with yellow spring flowers followed by bright green leaves that turn to golden yellow, red and brown in autumn. Conservation The flowers are much favoured by honeybees. Timber value Norway maple can be used for flooring, furniture, turnery and veneers. Small round wood sells well for firewood. Economic appraisal A productive species, superior to sycamore on shallow calcareous soils in southern Britain but inferior to sycamore in northern Britain and must be restricted to well-drained, fertile, acid brown earths. In the south it should be grown in mixture with larch, ash and gean on a rotation of 45 to 60 years. Control of grey squirrels is essential. |
