Norway: Columnare Maple
Acer platanoides
Norway: Columnare Maple (Acer platanoides) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Recommended for Most Sites" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 40–50 ft tall and 30–40 ft wide, needs medium water, and prefers full sun to partial shade. Acer platanoides is prone to sunscald and leaf scorch in hot dry sites.
medium water40–50 ft tall and 30–40 ft wide
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At a glance
- Rating
- Recommended for Most Sites
- Botanical name
- Acer platanoides
- Variety / cultivar
- Norway: Columnare, Crimson King, Crimson Sentry, Deborah, EMERALD LUSTER®, Emerald Queen, Fairview, Royal Red
- Type
- Tree
- Mature size
- 40–50 ft tall and 30–40 ft wide
- Mature form
- Rounded
- Spacing / clearance
- ~40 ft of clearance
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–7
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- Medium
- Fall color
- Yellow
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun; tolerates partial shade.
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.2
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- low
- Pollinator value
- high
Site factors to consider
- Critical: Salt ToleranceIt has low salt tolerance, so keep it back from de-iced sidewalks, roadsides, and softener runoff, where salt burns roots and leaf edges.
- Watch: Leaf ScorchIts leaf edges brown in hot, dry wind, so give it steady summer water and some shelter from the worst afternoon blast.
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Not deer-resistant
Common problems on the Front Range
- Aphids and honeydew
- Verticillium wilt on some species
- Leaf scorch in hot, dry, windy sites
These are general tendencies for this group of plants on the Front Range, not a diagnosis. Many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or your local CSU Extension office.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Norway: Columnare Maple good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Norway: Columnare Maple is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Recommended for Most Sites" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- How big does Norway: Columnare Maple get?
- It matures to about 40–50 ft tall and 30–40 ft wide.
- How much room does Norway: Columnare Maple need?
- Give Norway: Columnare Maple about 40 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does Norway: Columnare Maple grow into?
- Norway: Columnare Maple typically grows into a broad, rounded crown, the classic shade-tree silhouette. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is Norway: Columnare Maple hardy on the Front Range?
- Norway: Columnare Maple is hardy in USDA 3–7. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Norway: Columnare Maple need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- How fast does Norway: Columnare Maple grow?
- Norway: Columnare Maple is a moderate-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does Norway: Columnare Maple live?
- Norway: Columnare Maple has a moderate lifespan for a Front Range tree. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- What color does Norway: Columnare Maple turn in fall?
- Norway: Columnare Maple turns yellow in autumn. Fall color intensity varies with the season and site on the Front Range.
- Is Norway: Columnare Maple native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Norway: Columnare Maple deer-resistant?
- No. Norway: Columnare Maple is not considered deer-resistant and may need protection where deer browse.
- Is Norway: Columnare Maple prone to pests or disease on the Front Range?
- Norway: Columnare Maple can be affected by aphids and honeydew and other issues common to this group on the Front Range. These are general tendencies, not a diagnosis, many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or CSU Extension.
