That moment you realize you’ve been wrong for three years.

[Eduardo K]

The last three years I’ve been thinking sugar maples have proliferated in the understory of my back yard. They grow like dog hair in the shade of the hickory, oak, and poplar (tulip trees), so much so, there are zero shrubs on the floor of the woods. Then last night I started reading an article on invasives, sure enough the Norway maple was mentioned and pictured.
After coffee I walked out to my yard to inspect my prolific sugar maples. I’m almost positive they are not sugar maples. The leaves have seven lobes and secrete a white sap when leaf stems are snapped.


I would say I could tell a red and silver from a sugar or Norway maple, but I’d like an opinion on the leaves pictured.

Thanks!

 

[huskihl]

Sugar maples here have more defined fingers, where those appear more “round” or palmated

 

[atpchas]

This site appears to confirm your suspicion that these are Norway maples.

Norway Maple vs Sugar Maple: Identification

These plants are often confused due to similarity in leaf shape and occurrence in the same habitat; they are easily distinguished by samaras, flowers, mature tree bark, buds, or the presence/absence of milky sap. Leaf shape can be distinguished, but is best supplemented by other cues. Although...

bplant.org

 

[Woodpecker]

Sorry man those are Norway maples. Better than red or silver but nowhere near as nice as hard maple (sugar or black).

 

[Eduardo K]

Gents,
Thanks for chiming in. It looks like they’ll be getting bucked and split.

 

[Ketchup]

Norway isn’t bad firewood. Splits easy.