Norway Maple
203 Lake Cres.
In Saskatoon the Norway Maple Acer platanoides is rare. Few are able to survive our winters, unless well sheltered as is this one between the houses. It is often confused with our native Sugar Maple Acer saccharum, but the two can be distinguished by their sap and by their leaves. The Norway Maple sap is milky vs. clear for the Sugar Maple. The points on the leaves are distinctively different as well. Canadians were shocked and disappointed when the Bank of Canada came out with new polymer notes in 2013. They were imprinted with the "wrong" maple leaf – the Norway Maple - instead of the Sugar Maple, symbol of all things Canadian!
In the 18th century the Norway Maple of northern Europe was introduced to North America and widely planted as a street tree. It is tolerant of many urban conditions such as salt, compacted soil and drought. During the 1950s-60s, it became popular as a street tree due to the large-scale loss of American Elms from Dutch Elm Disease. Unfortunately, in areas where it is hardy the Norway Maple is now considered an invasive species. Due to it being so tolerant of shade and creating its own dense canopy, it often displaces native trees, shrubs and herbaceous understory plants.
Alternate location: 618 Quance Ave.