![]() This leaves these areas with poor species diversity and reduces the resilience of the urban forest to withstand future disturbances. Despite its invasive tendencies, however, note that Norway maple is not currently regulated under Wisconsin’s Invasive Species Rule, meaning there are no restrictions to buying, selling, planting or transporting this species.Įven as a species with invasive tendencies, the potentially more troublesome situation with Norway maple in Wisconsin is its overabundance in many of our communities, particularly along streets. The tree was planted extensively across many American cities and had the unfortunate habit of becoming invasive due to its quick growth, plentiful seed source and creation of deep shade. When Dutch elm disease began its assault on streetscapes in 1928, Norway maple was primed to be American elm’s main replacement. But these weren’t days of conquest for the Norway maple these were days of preparation. And as its reputation for tolerance across many sites grew, so did its availability. Here was a tree that could survive in disparate areas, tolerate urban stresses and grow quickly. Over the next 150 years, Norway maple’s range expanded with alongside that of America’s. George Washington had Norway maple planted on his property and, like many things in which the towering figure participated, precedent was set. By 1762, seedlings were available for sale from Bartram’s nursery in Pennsylvania and another in New Jersey. John Bartram, the American called the greatest botanist in the world by none other than Carl Linnaeus, sought out Norway maples in 1756 from a supplier in England. It was, in fact, humble correspondence that invited it here. It wasn’t by chance that Norway maple made its way across the pond to our shores. By Dan Buckler, Urban Forestry Assessment Outreach Specialist, 60
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