The variegated Norway maple (Acer platanoides ‘Variegatum’) is a stunning ornamental tree admired for its unique bi-colored leaves and dazzling fall foliage This maple variety truly shines in autumn when its leaves transition to brilliant yellow and gold tones
Overview of the Variegated Norway Maple
The variegated Norway maple is a cultivar of the popular green-leafed Norway maple tree (Acer platanoides). It offers the same hardy adaptable nature but with more visual interest thanks to its colorful variegated foliage.
The leaves emerge in spring with eye-catching splashes of creamy white variegation on a green background. This two-tone effect adds flair and makes the tree stand out in landscapes.
This maple grows at a medium rate into a dense, oval-rounded shape about 40 feet tall and 35 feet wide It has a high canopy with a typical clearance of about 7 feet from the ground.
The variegated maple thrives in full sun exposure and adapts to various soil types and moisture levels. It also shows good tolerance to pollution and urban settings.
Overall this ornamental tree makes a stellar addition to large yards, parks and other open community spaces. It works well as a specimen showcase tree or planted in groupings. The variegated maple also functions as an attractive shade tree thanks to its dense canopy.
The Shift to Vibrant Fall Color
One of the biggest claims to fame for the variegated Norway maple is its reliably stunning fall foliage. While the white-splashed green leaves offer year-round interest, the tree truly comes alive in autumn.
When fall approaches, the green background of the leaves transitions to vibrant yellow and gold tones. The creamy white leaf sections also become golden, resulting in a captivating harmony of warm hues. The tree glows from within when backlit by the sun’s rays.
The intensity and vibrancy of the fall color can vary slightly year to year depending on weather conditions. But you can count on a brilliant display ranging from golden yellow to amber. Cool night temperatures typically enhance the intensity of the leaf colors.
Timing the Transition of Foliage in Fall
In general, variegated Norway maple trees transition to fall color in mid to late October in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-7. The progression of leaf color starts with a pale yellowing of the green leaf sections. Over the next couple of weeks, the yellow becomes richer and deeper. The leaves will also start dropping from the tree during this transitional period.
Peak fall color is usually achieved in early to mid-November before the leaves drop. But the duration of the fall foliage display can shift earlier or later by 1-2 weeks depending on the weather and location.
Northern gardeners can expect the fall color spectacle to arrive on the earlier side. Southern gardeners are more likely to hit peak color closer to mid-November. Tracking the fall progression of other trees in your area can provide clues for when to expect the variegated maple’s maximum autumn show.
Extending the Fall Foliage Display
Unfortunately, the brilliant fall color of the variegated Norway maple only lasts for a couple of weeks. If you want to prolong the display, here are some tips:
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Plant trees in a sheltered spot away from strong winds. The leaves will stay on the branches longer.
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Ensure adequate water leading up to winter dormancy to avoid drought stress.
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Consider supplementing with a high potassium fertilizer in early fall. Potassium encourages fuller color development.
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Plant several in a grove to extend the overlap of colors as some transition sooner than others.
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Time landscaping care and pruning to avoid disrupting the trees in fall.
Complementary Plants for Fall Color
The golden fall foliage of the variegated Norway maple pairs beautifully with other plants in autumn. Consider combining it with:
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Red maples for contrasting red-orange-burgundy tones
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Burning bushes (Euonymus alatus) for coordinating red-purple leaves
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Oak trees for complementary russet-orange shades
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Black gum trees (Nyssa sylvatica) for intense red fall color
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Yellow-twig dogwoods (Cornus sericea) for matching yellow stems
With the right plant combinations, you can create a spectacular fall landscape display.
Caring for Variegated Norway Maples
To keep your variegated Norway maple healthy and looking its best:
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Plant in full sun for optimal growth. Provide at least 6 hours of direct sun daily.
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Water regularly the first few years to establish an extensive root system. Mature trees have moderate water needs.
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Fertilize in early spring with a balanced fertilizer or one higher in nitrogen to promote leaf growth.
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Prune in summer after leaves are fully expanded to avoid sap bleeding. Remove dead or damaged branches as needed.
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Monitor for signs of pests like aphids, scales, borers, and mites. Treat promptly to avoid infestations.
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Rake up and dispose of fallen leaves to prevent reinfection of fungal diseases.
With proper care, the variegated Norway maple will grow into a focal point tree in the landscape.
Drawbacks of the Variegated Norway Maple
While gorgeous, the variegated Norway maple does have a few disadvantages to consider:
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Its dense shade can inhibit underplantings. Choose shade-tolerant companions.
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The shallow root system competes with lawns and sidewalks. Allow adequate space.
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Leaf tattering from wind, sun exposure, and pests can detract from its beauty. Provide shelter.
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Non-native maple species can become invasive in some regions. Check local status.
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Fall foliage, though beautiful, is relatively short-lived compared to other maple trees.
Alternatives to the Variegated Norway Maple
If you like the looks of the variegated Norway maple but want to explore other options, here are a few alternatives:
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Paperbark maple (Acer griseum) – Exfoliating cinnamon bark and red fall color
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Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) – Lacy leaves and crimson fall tones
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Amur maple (Acer ginnala) – Brilliant red fall foliage and multi-season interest
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Red maple (Acer rubrum) – Vibrant red-orange autumn color on a fast growing native
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Freeman maple (Acer x freemanii) – Hybrid combining red and silver maple qualities
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Trident maple (Acer buergerianum)- Multi-season appeal with orange-red fall color
The Takeaway
If you’re searching for a shade tree that delivers more than just green foliage, consider planting the variegated Norway maple. The striking yellow and gold hues that emerge on its leaves each autumn offer seasonal excitement and visual impact. As an added bonus, the bold variegated foliage provides year-round interest as well. Give this underutilized maple a try in your own landscape and enjoy the dazzling fall foliage display it rewards you with.
Acer platanoides (Norway Maple)
| Also known as: | |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Acer |
| Family: | Sapindaceae (Soapberry) |
| Life cycle: | perennial woody |
| Origin: | Europe, Asia |
| Status: |
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| Habitat: | part shade, sun; urban landscapes, forests |
| Bloom season: | May |
| Plant height: | 50 to 70 feet |
| Wetland Indicator Status: | GP: UPL MW: UPL NCNE: UPL |
| MN county distribution (click map to enlarge): | |
| National distribution (click map to enlarge): |
Pick an for a larger view. See the glossary for icon descriptions.
Round, branching, upright clusters about 2 inches across appear just prior to or at the same time leaves emerge in spring. Male and female flowers may be on separate trees or the same tree. For both, the flowers open broadly, are ¼ to 1/3 inch across, greenish yellow with 5 oval-lance sepals up to 1/8 inch long and 5 spatula shaped petals nearly twice as long as the sepals. In the center is a brownish green disk. Male flowers have 8 spreading stamens around the disk, females a 2-part, curled style in the center. Flower stalks are long, slender and hairless or glandular-hairy.
Leaves are simple, opposite, and long stalked, the blade up to 8 inches long and 10 inches wide with 5 to 7 palmate, sharply pointed lobes, the two basal lobes a single sharp point. Leaf edges are smooth and often wavy. Upper surface is dark green (though this can vary with the cultivar) and smooth, the lower surface paler and smooth except for dense patches of stiff hairs in the vein axils and short stiff hairs on the veins near the axils.
One year old twigs are reddish brown and smooth, older branches turning grayish to brown like the trunk. The bark is moderately textured by furrows and ridges. The national champion in the US is over 6 feet in diameter at breast height (dbh).
Fruit is a pair of winged seeds (samara), that can be up to 2½ inches long (though this can also vary with the cultivar) and are widely angled apart to nearly 180°. Fruit matures from September into October.
As its name implies, this is a maple native to Norway and much of Europe into western Asia. It was introduced in colonial times as an urban street tree and is still widely bought and sold for that purpose today. Many years of horticultural selection has produced cultivars that vary widely in form, from columnar to densely global and leaf color with red maroons, bright yellow and even variegated. But it has escaped human cultivation into natural systems where it has become a component of successional forests. It is highly shade tolerant and mature trees produce such dense canopies, little light is provided for understory and ground layer plants beneath them and makes for serious competition with our highly prized native Sugar Maple. While the misinformed often automatically identify its red leaved cultivars as “red” maples, it shares few similarities with our native Red Maple (Acer rubrum). Except for its distinctive flowers in the spring and widely angled seeds in the fall, green varieties are most often confused with the native Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum). Norway Maple leaves are generally bigger and more sharply pointed, the points longer and more tapering than Sugar Maple, and both upper and lower surfaces darker green. Few Norway Maples provide meaningful fall color, a few yellows at most and often persisting on the tree until late season frosts before turning a drab olive brown. Still when in doubt, the easiest way to ID Norway Maple is to tear a leaf or snap a leaf stalk in two and look for the milky sap the fresh break produces.
Best Maple Trees For Fall Color ️
FAQ
What color are Norway maples 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. Sugar maples have a clear sap that is sometimes difficult to notice.
Which maple tree has the best fall color?
The October glory maple is one of the most beautiful of the red maple variety. It does well in the south/midwest and is more heat tolerant than others. The guaranteed fall color makes this tree very popular for those looking to add a tree for fall color.
What are the cons of Norway maples?
Norway Maples Crowd Out Native Species & Break Easily
The Norway maple’s shallow, aggressive root system can prevent other plants, including grass, from growing underneath it. It also has a tendency to girdle competing plants – even the parent tree itself! This tree also tends to have weak unions and brittle wood.
How big do variegated Norway maples get?
The most common and easily recognizable variegated Maple. Acer platanoides Drummondii is a medium sized tree that can grow to 15m (48ft) sometimes a little more. It is a broad-headed tree with a neat, dense crown.