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The Norway Maple is a common enough tree. I planted a few in a mix of trees back in the days
when I was planting anything I could lay my hands on, to act as windbreaks. Most of them have
since been taken out, so I have started to cherish this small specimen, which started
life as a variegated one grafted on an ordinary rootstock, but the rootstock has taken over. I was surprised by the brilliant autumn colour, but it can't be relied on, especially in my climate. Trees and Shrubs online says: "Described by Bean (1976, p. 223) as ‘one of the handsomest, hardiest, and most vigorous of introduced trees’, Acer platanoides has unsurprisingly also become one of the most planted trees, particularly in urban settings, but is at its finest when allowed plenty of space in parkland. Hugely versatile and reliable on almost any soil, it is also tolerant of atmospheric pollution. It is most attractive in early spring, when dense corymbs of yellow-green flowers are produced in abundance, and it becomes a magnificent feature in the landscape. Its leaves turn a good butter-yellow or orange in autumn, and although its coloration scarcely matches the consistent tones displayed by many of its relatives, it again becomes very conspicuous. The earliest record of its cultivation in Britain dates from 1683, when George Sutherland included it in a list of the trees he moved from Holyrood Palace to a new garden close to Edinburgh Castle, where Waverley Station now stands (Mitchell 1996). It also naturalises in parts of Britain. Seedlings are easily found in many areas, though its invasive tendencies, thus far, appear easier to keep in check here, and it continues to be a popular subject of the nursery trade. The Woodland Trust say: "Norway maple was introduced to the UK from its native range of eastern and central Europe in the 17th century. It can be found in the UK as a street tree and is widely planted as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens due to its tall trunk and tolerance of compacted soils, shade and pollution. A number of moth caterpillars feed on the leaves, and the flowers provide nectar and pollen for bees and other insects. Birds and small mammals eat the seeds." |
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| 7th November 2010 | ||
