As the leaves fall around you, you may notice some that look almost identical. This is especially true for maple trees. Sugar maples, red maples, and Norway maples can all be found in our parks, and there are other tree species, like sweetgums, that sometimes look just like maples, too. Use this handy guide to tell those lookalike leaves apart!
When you think of a maple tree in the fall, youre probably imagining bright red leaves — what youre thinking of is likely the red maple (Acer rubrum). In autumn, its leaves turn a brilliant, deep scarlet color. With more than 18,000 red maples on New York City streets, its very likely you’ll come across one. But, there are other maple trees that boast a reddish color, so take an even closer look — red maple leaves have three parts, or lobes, that all point in the same direction.
The sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is often confused with the red maple, but the two arent identical at all! Sugar maple leaves have five pointed lobes, each pointing in a different direction, and the leaves can turn a range of colors, from bright yellow to orange to a vivid red-orange – sometimes, all of these colors may even be visible on the same tree!
Often confused with sugar maples, Norway maple (Acer platanoides) also have leaves with five lobes. But unlike sugar maples, the stems of Norway maple leaves secrete a milky sap when you break them from the twig, but please dont snap the twigs — theres another way to tell them apart! Norway maples change color much later in the season, often turning yellow in late November.
Another leaf that could be mistaken for a maple is the sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). But sweetgum leaves are distinctly star-shaped and are often surrounded by their easy-to-recognize fruit that looks like spike balls. The leaves of sweetgum trees usually have five pointed lobes, and occasionally more.
As the leaves change, use these guides to learn more about maple trees while exploring our parks and trees in your neighborhood!
As summer transitions to autumn, one of my favorite sights is watching the green leaves of deciduous trees transform into a vibrant palette of yellow, orange, red and purple The Norway maple (Acer platanoides) is one tree valued for its pleasing fall foliage display While not the most spectacular, the Norway maple delivers a cheerful show of yellow and orange leaves to welcome the fall season.
An Overview of the Norway Maple
Native to Europe and parts of Asia the Norway maple was introduced to North America in the 18th century as an ornamental landscape tree. It has since spread across much of the eastern and central U.S. and Canada.
This deciduous maple grows 40 to 50 feet tall at maturity, with an oval or rounded crown spanning 30 to 40 feet wide. The leaves are opposite, 4 to 7 inches wide, with 5 or 7 pointed lobes. In spring, greenish-yellow flowers appear as the leaves emerge. The paired winged seeds called samaras mature and spin to the ground in fall.
The Norway maple thrives in various soil types and withstands pollution and urban conditions. However, its aggressive root system enables it to spread prolifically, making it invasive in some regions. Several states now prohibit or restrict planting Norway maples.
Typical Fall Foliage Colors
In autumn, most Norway maples display clear golden yellow foliage. This cheerful yellow typically develops in mid-fall, providing a pleasing backdrop to the vivid red and purple leaves of other maple species.
The intensity of fall color varies depending on soil, weather, genetics and other factors. Some Norway maples may develop orange-yellow hues. Occasionally, the leaves may skip yellow and brown directly after frost. But commonly, they turn a consistent, bright yellow.
While not the most dazzling, the Norway maple’s reliable fall palette contrasts nicely against its gray bark. It also complements evergreens and trees with red foliage.
Why Maple Leaves Change Color in Fall
Maples and other deciduous trees owe their rainbow of autumn foliage to natural leaf pigments:
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Chlorophyll – Provides the green color during the growing season. Production stops as days shorten in fall.
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Carotenoids – Produce yellow, orange and brown. Present all season but revealed as chlorophyll fades.
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Anthocyanins – Create bright red. Produced in fall in response to light and trapped sugars in leaves.
As chlorophyll production decreases with cooler weather and less light, yellow and orange carotenoids shine through. Red anthocyanins may also develop if enough sugars remain in the leaves.
Temperature, light, soil nutrition and genetics influence the pigments produced, causing color variations among maple species and individual trees.
Encouraging the Best Norway Maple Fall Color
Although nature ultimately determines fall foliage vibrancy, you can encourage the best color:
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Choose cultivars bred for superior fall hues like ‘Fairview’ or ‘Indian Summer’.
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Water adequately during late summer/fall droughts. Drought stress reduces color.
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Fertilize with nitrogen in spring but avoid excess nitrogen in fall.
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Plant in full sun for brightest color development. Too much shade dulls intensity.
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Prune to open the canopy and allow more light penetration.
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Avoid planting in frost pockets that damage leaves early.
Even in years of muted fall vibrancy, Norway maples offer fine qualities as landscape specimens, like winter interest and spring/summer foliage.
Top Alternatives for Spectacular Fall Color
For more brilliant maple fall color, consider these top options that typically shine in reds and oranges:
- 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, tupelo, oak, sweetgum and more. Blending diverse fall foliage trees ensures an extended color spectacle.
While the Norway maple may not have the most dazzling autumn display, it deserves a spot for its dependable yellows and oranges. Mixing it with other trees promises a full fall foliage rainbow.
So as another fall approaches, take time to appreciate the Norway maple’s cheerful contribution to nature’s annual artful transition. Let its golden colors remind you to find joy amidst change.
NYC Street Tree Map
Test your new skills with our NYC Street Tree Map! Use the map to confirm if youve spotted a maple!
Learn more about common leaf shapes and how to recognize the trees they come from.
5 Best Maple Trees for Fall Color | NatureHills.com
FAQ
What color are Norway maple leaves in the fall?
Norway maple leaves are usually larger and turn yellow in the fall while sugar maples turn orange or red. A more reliant way to tell these two species apart is to break off a leaf stem and take a look at the sap.
How to identify Norway maple in winter?
Twigs:The Norway Maples twigs are a reddish-brown. Buds grow on the ends of the twigs. Buds are large (1/4 inch) and red or greenish-red with two to three pairs of bud scales; they are a sure means of identification in the winter.
What do maple tree leaves look like in the fall?
Sugar maple leaves have five pointed lobes, each pointing in a different direction, and the leaves can turn a range of colors, from bright yellow to orange to a vivid red-orange – sometimes, all of these colors may even be visible on the same tree!