An invasive plant species, Norway maple trees are widespread in North America.
Amur maple trees (Acer ginnala 'Flame') would be a good alternative for small spaces, if they, too, weren't invasive. Attaining a maximum size of only about 20 feet x 20 feet, Amur maple trees achieve their best fall color if grown in full sun. Their fall foliage color is a brilliant red.
Another alternative for landscaping in small spaces is Acer campestre, the hedge maple trees. Growing 10-30 feet tall, hedge maple trees live up to their name in Europe, where they are planted as hedges and pruned back, promoting dense foliage that serves as a privacy screen. As of 2008, hedge maples were listed as invasive in only one state in the U.S.: Ohio.
But as the next fall foliage image will show, there's more than one kind of Norway maple tree (Acer platanoides)....
