Norway maple - Ten popular varieties presented

The maple is one of the most popular and widespread trees. There are well over 100 varieties of it. Here we present the 10 most popular ones in more detail.

The maple belongs to the soap tree family and is assigned to the horse chestnut family. Between 120 and 200 species worldwide can be assigned to the maple. Since there are different opinions on the classification of the subspecies, this is quite a big difference. In addition to these different species, numerous varieties created by breeding are common.

The maple is one of the most common trees in the world. In addition to its function as an ornamental plant in gardens, on roadsides or in parks, the wood is also used, for example to make furniture. Maple trees are most widespread in the northern hemisphere.

The maple can also be classified according to its leaves. The leaf shapes are assigned to four categories. There are three to fivefold, three to five lobes or seven to eleven lobes leaves. The flowers are usually not very conspicuous and come in the form of umbels or grapes. In all species, the split fruits are far more conspicuous. They glide to the ground like a small helicopter and can be carried hundreds of meters by the wind.

A whole series of cultivated forms of Norway maple are also known, which will now be presented in more detail.

The 10 most popular Norway maple varieties

1. Norway Maple Almira

This cultivar was created in the mid-1950s. The plant is characterized by its compact growth habit. The plants grow faster than comparable species. Almira can grow up to eight meters tall.

2. Norway Maple Crimson King

This species originates from France, where it was bred in 1946. Crimson King grows rather slowly and reaches heights of up to 15 meters. The plants are also known as blood maples. This can be explained by the dark red leaves. Younger leaves are darker in color and more brownish.

» Tip: Wrinkled leaves after budding are species-specific. The tree is perfectly he althy and the leaves are flattening out over time.

3. Norway mapleCucullatum

This is an old breeding form, which was already known around 1880. Cucullatum requires a lot of space and is less suitable for smaller gardens. The trees are more than 20 meters high and have a rather narrow growth habit. The leaves can grow up to twelve centimeters long and are rather rounded.

4. Norway Maple Drummondii

This particularly attractive species comes from England, where it was bred in the early 20th century. Drummondii has striking light green leaves with white margins and mottles. The yellow osmanthus flowers are also an eye-catcher. The tree forms a spherical crown and grows up to 15 meters high.

5. Faassen`s Black

This Norway maple was found in Belgium in 1936. The leaves of Faassen's Black appear a deep dark brown, often almost appearing black. The leaves have a slight sheen on the upper side. The flowers also impress with a bright red. In autumn, the red color of the leaves is an eye-catcher. You should give the Norway maple a lot of space in the garden, because the trees will grow up to 20 meters high.

6. Globosum

The Norway maple can also be cultivated in small gardens. The spherical maple is an alternative if there is not enough space for the higher-growing varieties. This variety originated in 1873. Globosum has a dense spherical crown, which is about six meters wide. The plants are usually grown as a standard and grow up to six meters high.

» Tip: Due to its short growth, the ball maple is an alternative for smaller gardens. The plants grow compactly and hardly need pruning.

7. Laciniatum

The bird's claw maple is one of the oldest known cultivated forms. The pyramid-shaped species dates back to 1781. The Norway maple is also characterized by its particularly long leaves. The plant got its name from the wide, wedge-shaped leaves that curve downwards like claws.

8. Lorbergii

The Norway maple Lorbergii will grow particularly vigorously and will need a lot of space in your garden. This variety was bred as early as 1829. This Norway maple is easy to recognize by the strikingly large and particularly deep-cut leaves, which are a refreshingly light green colour. The trees have twisted leaves and can reach heights of up to 20 meters.

9. Riding Bachii

This is itis a form of Norway maple bred in Germany. Riding bachii originated in 1874. Today, the plant is rarely cultivated. The plants sprout brown-red. During the summer months, the leaves of this Norway maple turn green. In the fall, Reitbachii offers an attractive deep red foliage color.

10. Schwedleri

This cultivar also originated in Germany and dates back to 1869 to be precise. This variety is also declining and has been cultivated less and less in recent years. Since this Norway maple can grow up to 20 meters in height, the plant is less suitable for smaller gardens. The leaves are already dark red in color when they sprout. In summer, the foliage appears greenish. Only the stalk and the leaf veins retain the deep red colouration, which can be observed when the leaves sprout. The tree offers a contrasting appearance and enriches the garden year with its orange-red autumn colouring.