Norway Maple vs Japanese Maple

Norway Maple is a tolerant and adaptable shade tree. This is probably why it is the most popularly planted boulevard tree in North America.

Note: Norway Maple will sucker with age. It's also not a good idea to plant it under power lines.

Japanese Maple is one of the most popular accent maples. Its long, fingered lobed leaves can be variegated in the summer with lighter shades of green, red, or even purple. Its autumn colour is a brilliant red that is uncommon in most plants, which adds nice contrast to your yard when planted near other trees.


The Japanese Maple is a diverse variety, there are over 1,000 cultivars with different sizes, shapes, and colours.

This species is extremely popular with bonsai enthusiasts.

Compare Norway Maple with

Compare Japanese Maple with