Norway maple — hoodie

Norway maple, (common maple)

Acer platanoides L.

The norway maple is a native species commonly found in Poland. It can also be found in Europe, the Caucasus, the Balkans and Asia Minor. It grows to a height of 30 meters, and its dense, green crown forms a spherical or egg-shaped shape about 5 meters in diameter. The maple belongs to the soapberry family.

In late April, the trees are sprinkled with numerous umbels of greenish-yellow flowers, which develop before the leaves appear on the tree. The lime color of the flowers makes the trees look as if they are shrouded in a brilliant mist, the flowers are eagerly visited by insects.

Fruits of the common maple - winglets, form clusters of bright green wings, which ripen and fall in autumn. The germination capacity of maple seeds is 90%.

The real ornament of the maple is the 5-lobed, dark green leaves - palmate, large with sharply ridged edges, they grow on long petioles. In summer they do not stand out, but in October they discolor creating a spectacular show. Maple leaves then turn yellow, orange, red and carmine. These trees definitely stand out in autumn in our landscape, which is why they are often chosen to decorate parks, avenues and gardens.

Norway maples are not very demanding about the site, they can grow in any soil, except very dry or waterlogged. Young maples grow quite fast, at the age of 40-60 they get slower and slower, living up to 200 years.

Many varieties of the common maple are now grown in gardens, not surprisingly - it is one of the most popular deciduous trees.