Side by side
Norway maple or London plane? How to tell them apart
Acer platanoides · Platanus × hispanica
How to tell them apart – Norway maple: maple leaf with long, pointed teeth and white milky sap in the leaf stalk; London plane: leaves are alternate and the bark peels off.
How do you recognise them?
- Norway maple
- Maple leaf with long, pointed teeth and white milky sap in the leaf stalk.
- London plane
- Maple-like leaf that is alternate, flaking ‘camouflage’ bark and hanging balls.
- Compared with Norway maple: leaves are alternate and the bark peels off.
| Norway maple | London plane | |
|---|---|---|
| Leaves | Opposite, 10–18 cm, with 5–7 lobes ending in long, pointed teeth; glossy. Snap the leaf stalk and white milky sap comes out. | Alternate, palmately lobed with 3–5 lobes, 12–25 cm. The base of the leaf stalk is hollow and encloses the bud. |
| Flowering | Yellow-green flower clusters before the leaves open (April) (April). | May |
| Fruit | Winged fruits with wings at a wide, obtuse angle. | Hanging balls 2–3 cm across, often in pairs, which break up in winter into fluffy seeds. |
| Bark | Grey, finely and regularly fissured, does not flake. | Peels off in large patches, creating a mottled pattern of grey, green and yellow. |
| Shape and height | Broadleaf tree, 20–30 m | Broadleaf tree, 25–40 m |
| Site | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, normal | Full sun, any garden soil, normal |
| Native to Belgium | Yes, long naturalised | No, planted |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for bees | Little |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Not known to be poisonous | Not known to be poisonous |
| Pruning months | July–October | November–March |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Norway maple is native: it feeds more insects and birds than a non-native species. If in doubt, choose this one.
- Norway maple (20–30 m) and London plane (25–40 m) both grow into large trees: too big for an ordinary garden, but fine in a large garden, a park or a meadow.
Read on
- Plant profile: Norway maple
- Plant profile: London plane
- Norway maple: when and how to prune
- London plane: when and how to prune
- Identification key: the question that separates them
Also looks like
- Sycamore or Norway maple
- London plane or sycamore
- Norway maple or field maple
- Sweetgum or London plane
- London plane or fig
Identify by feature
This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.