As the warm hues of summer fade into the cooler tones of autumn, one of the simple pleasures is observing the green leaves of deciduous trees transform into a fiery palette of yellow, orange, red and purple Among the many maple tree species prized for their fall foliage is the Norway maple (Acer platanoides). While not the most flamboyant, the Norway maple provides a pleasing display of radiant yellow leaves to usher in the autumn season
An Overview of the Norway Maple
Indigenous to Europe and parts of Asia, the Norway maple was introduced to North America as an ornamental landscape tree in the 18th century. Since then, it has naturalized across much of the eastern and central United States and Canada.
This deciduous maple grows 40 to 50 feet tall at maturity, with an oval or rounded canopy spanning 30 to 40 feet wide. The leaves are opposite, 4 to 7 inches broad, with 5 or 7 sharply pointed lobes. In spring, greenish-yellow flower clusters emerge as the leaves develop. The paired winged seeds known as samaras mature and fall in autumn.
Adaptable to various soil types, the Norway maple withstands pollution and urban conditions. However, its aggressive lateral root system allows it to spread prolifically, becoming invasive in some regions. Therefore, several states prohibit or limit Norway maple planting.
Typical Fall Color
When autumn arrives, most Norway maples exhibit a vibrant display of golden yellow foliage. This radiant yellow fall color typically emerges in mid-autumn, bathing the landscape in warmth. It forms a lively backdrop to the vivid red and purple leaves of other maple species.
The intensity of autumnal color can fluctuate depending on soil fertility summer weather genetics and other factors. Some Norway maples may produce hues of orange-yellow. Occasionally, the leaves may skip yellow and brown directly after frost. However, bright golden yellow is the most common fall color.
While it may not be the most flamboyant the Norway maple provides reliably stunning golden fall color. The vibrant yellow foliage complements the gray bark and contrasts beautifully with evergreens or trees displaying red autumn foliage.
Why Leaves Change Color in Fall
Maples and other deciduous trees owe their kaleidoscopic fall foliage to natural pigments in the leaves:
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Chlorophyll – Provides the green pigment in leaves during the growing season. Production halts as daylight decreases in autumn.
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Carotenoids – Produce yellow, orange and brown hues. Present all year but revealed as chlorophyll fades.
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Anthocyanins – Create bright red colors. Formed in fall in response to excess sugars and sunlight exposure.
As chlorophyll wanes with cooler weather and shorter days, carotenoids become visible to create warm yellows and oranges. Red anthocyanins may also develop if ample sugars remain trapped in the leaves.
Temperature, sunlight, soil nutrients and genetics determine the specific leaf pigments produced. This explains the variations in color among maple species and individual trees.
Encouraging Optimal Fall Color
While nature ultimately controls fall color vibrancy, you can take steps to help your Norway maple reach its best potential:
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Select cultivars bred for superior fall color like ‘Fairview’ and ‘Indian Summer’.
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Provide adequate moisture during dry periods in late summer and autumn. Drought stress dulls color.
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Apply sufficient spring nitrogen fertilization, but avoid excess nitrogen in fall.
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Plant in full sunlight to maximize color development. Too much shade dilutes brilliance.
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Prune to open the canopy and allow sunlight penetration.
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Prevent early frost damage by avoiding low, cold areas.
Even in years when fall color is less vibrant than anticipated, Norway maples offer year-round merits as landscape specimens. Their sturdy branching provides winter interest alongside spring and summer greenery.
Alternatives for Spectacular Autumn Color
For more dazzling fall maple color, consider these top options that typically display brilliant red and orange:
- Red maple (Acer rubrum)
- Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)
- Autumn Blaze maple (Acer x freemanii ‘Jeffersred’)
- Amur maple (Acer tataricum subsp. ginnala)
Non-maple trees with excellent fall foliage include dogwood, oak, tupelo, sweetgum, beech, sourwood, ash and many more. Blending diverse species ensures an extended autumn color spectacle.
While the Norway maple may lack the most flamboyant fall palette, it deserves a spot in the landscape for dependable golden foliage. Combining it with other trees promises a full spectrum of autumn’s painting.
So as another summer wanes into fall, take time to appreciate the Norway maple’s radiant yellow leaves signaling the start of another colorful autumn season.
Why plant Drummond Norway Maple?
Drummond Norway Maple will brighten your landscape with a canopy full of lemon-yellow flowers in spring and variegated foliage all season. This sturdy, easy-to-grow shade tree boasts colorful Maple leaves with creamy yellow to white margins that pop against their green centers. Plant this flashy tree mid-lawn or near the street to bring some pizzazz to your front-yard landscaping, or use it as a pretty shade maker around back to cool the barbecue area, deck, or patio. With a cold drink in one hand and a bratwurst in the other, youll admire your fine choice – which will only grow more impressive each year!
Norway Maple is a native of Scandinavian forests, but it also has a vast range extending into a few dozen other countries, including France, Greece, Poland, Russia, and Iran. Consequently, this species has been grown in gardens for ages. Having been introduced around 1903, the “Harlequin” Norway Maple is a relative newbie! First to offer it was the nursery of Drummond and Sons in Stirling, Scotland. The Drummond family was in the nursery business from around 1800 until 1981. In days past, they were known for their breeding work with turnips.
How To Plant Drummond Norway Maple
Like other Norway Maples, Drummond is an iron-clad tree. It isn’t fast growing, but nothing—except for too-wet soil or the hot, humid climate of the deep South—will keep it from chugging along. Its seeds are sterile, so it won’t overstep its bounds with unwanted seedlings. A tip, though, when growing this tree: Don’t try to grow much in its root zone—this is a surface-rooting tree!
Drummond Norway Maple prefers to be planted in a well draining soil that remains moist. During the hot summer months, be sure to keep your tree well watered!
Your Drummond Norway Maple should be fertilized with the Elements Starter Plant Food when freshly planted. From there, you should fertilize in spring and fall each year!
The best time to prune your Drummond would be in late winter to early spring. They may bleed a little sap, but that is no cause for concern! Be sure to monitor your tree for all-green leaves and prune those branches out. You don’t want to lose that snazzy variegation!
Best Maple Trees For Fall Color ️
FAQ
What color are Norway maple leaves in the fall?
Leaves: Opposite; simple; 4″ to 7″ wide and long; deciduous; typically palmately 5-lobed; lobes sharply pointed; somewhat serrate margin; bright green to dark purple, depending on variety; turning bright yellow or yellow-orange in fall; petiole 2″ to 4″ long, as long or longer than the leaf blade; milky sap is visible …
What color are maple leaves in the fall?
Different types of Native Maples display varying colours of yellow, red, orange and burgundy colours in the fall. The colour of an individual tree can sometimes vary from year to year. Factors such as location, weather, and genetics also play a role in timing and color intensity.
What color are Deborah Norway maples in the fall?
| Botanical Name | ACER PLATANOIDES ‘DEBORAH’ |
|---|---|
| Spring Color | EMERGE RED, TURN DK GREEN |
| Fall Color | ORANGE-YELLOW |
| Fall Foliage | ORANGE-YELLOW |
| Light Needs | Sun |
What color are emerald queen norway maples in the fall?
Facts About Emerald Queen Norway Maple
Foliage is deep green turning bright yellow in the fall. Occasionally susceptible to aphids and scale that can cause honeydew drip and sooty mold problems.
Why do Norway maple leaves turn yellow?
While sugar maples turn brilliant orange and red in autumn, Norway maple leaves turn pale yellow. So a predominance of yellows in the fall canopy indicates the presence of Norway maples. 5. Fast Growth One of the desirable traits that led to its widespread planting is the Norway maple’s fast growth rate.
Is Norway maple a good tree?
The summer foliage is also a somewhat darker green than that of the sugar maple. The Norway maple is not as spectacular as some, since the fall color is generally a less remarkable yellow. However, it can be a good choice in difficult urban conditions because it adapts well to many soil types and environmental pollutants.
How do you know if a Norway maple is a sugar maple?
Norway maple should be planted at least 100 yards from natural areas. The sugar maple usually has a brighter orange autumn color, where the Norway maple is usually yellow, although some of the red-leaved cultivars appear more orange. The sugar maple has clear sap in the petiole (leaf stem); Norway maple petioles have white sap.
What does a Norway maple look like?
In spring, scented yellow flowers, borne in showy clusters appear before the leaves and are followed by two-winged samara. Long-lived (60 to 200 years) and fast-growing, Norway Maple also provides some winter interest, with its attractive, grayish bark, regularly and shallowly grooved. Excellent shade tree or as a specimen.
Is Norway maple a shade tree?
It was introduced to North America in the mid-1700s as a shade tree. Norway maple is a member of the family Sapindaceae and is a part of the section Platanoidea Pax, which is characterized by flattened, disc-shaped seeds and the shoots and leaves containing milky sap.
Are Norway maple trees invasive?
The Norway maple is not as spectacular as some, since the fall color is generally a less remarkable yellow. However, it can be a good choice in difficult urban conditions because it adapts well to many soil types and environmental pollutants. Norway maples are such tenacious trees that they can be invasive in some areas of North America.