I think the title of this post reflects just how strongly anti-Norway maple I am! A tad over the top, perhaps, but this little cornucopia of buds (in botanical terms, a corymb) is a prolific spreader that is intolerant of other trees and plants growing in its vicinity! It outcompetes natives for nutrients - such a selfish plant, not sharing resources and living graciously with others like natives do!
The little flowers that open from this corymb are quite beautiful, as is the mature tree, which is prized as a shade and ornamental tree.
According to Rushforth's Trees of Britain and Europe, "The heavy seed crop and high germination rate contributes to its invasiveness in North America, where it forms dense monotypic stands that choke out native vegetation. ... It is one of the few introduced species that can successfully invade and colonize a virgin forest. By comparison, in its native range, Norway maple is rarely a dominant species and instead occurs mostly as a scattered understory tree."
Please try and avoid planting one - Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts have banned their sale but many are still extant and seeding.
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