Norway maple, Acer platanoides

Norway maple was introduced to North America almost three centuries ago. It has a rep for being tolerant of urban habitats. More recently cultivars with reddish leaves have become popular. The one at the corner of our garage is a good example of all this tree can bring to us. It's a nice big shady tree. It is also impossible to keep grass growing under it, and it is too welcoming to the English ivy that probably dates back to when the tree was planted. Hard to get rid of the ivy, and sure wish they had planted a different tree. These trees are somewhat invasive. We've cut more than a few at Ives Preserve. So here's a plug for planting natives. Seventy years later those Eurasians from the nursury are hard to manage. Norway maple has been reported wild in CT, DE, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MT, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, BC, NB, NS, ON, PE, and QC. Lenawee Co MI, 4/24/15. Soapberry family, Sapindaceae.