Terrestrial invasive species

Nature

Most of these invasive plant factsheets are created from the booklet Minnesota invasive non-native terrestrial plants, an identification guide for resource managers.

Check the additional resources and herbicides table for more information.

Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)


 

Description:

Appearance: Large deciduous tree, dense canopy, 60' high when mature. Similar to native sugar maple except: broken leaf emits milky sap, upright green flower clusters, widely spreading winged fruit, regularly grooved bark, fall color always yellow.

Leaves: Opposite, five lobed, coarsely toothed, pointed.

Flowers: Flat-topped upright cluster, yellowish green, appearing with the leaves, blooming in May.

Fruit: Widely spreading winged fruit, ripens in autumn.

Ecological Threat:

  • It invades native woodlands by out-competing sugar maple as it is also very shade tolerant. Wildflower diversity is reduced beneath because it forms a more dense canopy.
  • Although sold primarily as a boulevard tree it spreads by seeds into disturbed forest communities.
  • It is native to Europe and Asia and widely sold in nurseries in the U.S.

 

Control Methods:

Mechanical
Pulling seedlings when soil is moist

Chemical
Cut-stump treatment with glyphosate; cut-stump or basal bark spray treatment around the stem with triclopyr

 

Native Substitutes:

Additional Resources