Having some trouble with a tree ID. 100 yards or so behind our house stands this massive, old tree. Wish I had given it more attention when the leaves are on. I’ve always looked at it as an Ash. But now I’m second guessing that thought. It definitely didn’t grow as straight as an Ash tree normally does. There is also no external sign of EAB. All our other Ash trees have the beetle. Tree is healthy outside of the the couple monster branches that rotted off. It’s got opposing branches and is somewhat “pitchforked” like an Ash at the branch ends. Can’t get anywhere near the buds of course. Could it be a Norway Maple?? When the snow melts a little more I’m going to search the area for leaves. This tree is right in the middle of our sugarbush. I think I’d recall seeing maple leaves like that of the Norway (can’t say I’ve ever seen Norway leaves in person - only online - but they are distinctive enough from other maples). Bark has very deep crossing ridges. Looks a lot like Ash to me. But then I research and see examples of Norway Males that look similar. I’m a pretty big guy. Trunk is large enough that I’m not sure two guys of my size could touch hands when wrapping their arms around it. Will have to get a rope to measure it.
Norway Maple have almost dark purple leaves - VERY distinct. What color were the leaves. If Maple shape and dark purple then yes.
Looks like these pictures of Norway maple. If it is, cut and burn it! Considered invasive; it crowds out and shades native foliage. The bark in your pictures does look somewhat like ash but the crown pictures don't look like an ash crown. While both trees have opposit branching, ash has a very stark and distinct silhouette in the winter sky.
Norway maple leaves are bright green and turn bright yellow in Fall red Norway maple (royal red, crimson king, etc. ) is a sport/variant cultivar and the leaves just fall off in the Fall.
I zoomed in at the canopy and it sure looks like branches are opposite , meaning ash or in the maple family . Norway’s bark is a twin to the ash so that’s tuff to go by . Look for some leafs , Norway’s have big leafs. In the summer you tell a Norway by taking a leaf and breaking it at a vein . You’ll get a white liquid looking stuff . I tap Norway’s but have never seen one that big . My best guess is ash but I’ve been wrong before .
Boy, that bark looks very "Ashy" to me... That thing is freaking massive, whatever it is. I did have a Norwegian maple tree in my yard when I lived in Denver that had a similar bark and grew in a similar "twisted" fashion at the top. It wasn't nearly that big though. Could be either, or... Cool tree, though. Bet it could tell some stories. It's been around for a bit.
Yup, thats a Norway maple. Ive been fooled by the mature tree bark thinking its ash as well. Surprised to see one in the woods. Most ive encountered IME are "weed" trees growing on urban property lines that go unchecked. Invasive species, fast growing. Wood is better than red maple BTU wise. Splits easily, seasons in a year. Its brittle and snaps like EWP under wind/snow, ice load IME as well. Cant say ive ever seen one that big. Last of the maple to drop its leaves which are big and yellow. Nice to put a face to the name Woodsman
I’ve never seen a Norway maple that big. Plus the ones around here tend to have a rather short trunk and then it branches out in all directions.
Thanks for the input everyone. Was planning to walk back out and look for leaves this afternoon but then this happened on the drive home... It’s Ash but I finally stumbled upon a roadside score before someone else got to it! It’s been too long since my last one. Knocked on the people’s door. Nicest lady. Said her husband was going to take just a few lengths and I could take the rest. Big tree. Manhandled what I could into the truck. Wish I had had my chainsaw. Lot of it is frozen to the ground, too. Will head back with the saw for another truck load or two this week. Will walk out to the Ash/Norway tree tomorrow morning and post what I find for leaves.
Haha yep now my face is out there. I’m sure we’ll run into each other one day at a roadside Asplundh job. If not, I’m just the goofy guy sitting in the corner of the room. Can’t miss me.
I remember the first Norway Maple I ever seen. Looking at the bark I thought it was an Ash until I saw it’s Maple shaped leaf. I went home and looked it up. There aren’t that many around here.
WOW!!! WooHoo!!! Awesome score! Isnt it great finding a wood score purely by accident when you least expect it? Grab the rest ASAP! If i was closer im come help ya! Some nice rounds. Supposed to be sunny mid 40's here tomorrow. Im jonesing to do anything firewood! Been too long for me!
Well I guess I was wrong, the red leafed maples I thought were Norway Maples are a cultivar of Norway Maple - called King Crimson. Sorry about that. Big tree anyways. Happy Holidays
I've never seen one like that, or that big, but yeah. Looks to be a Norway maple. It's really good firewood.
Measured the tree this morning with a rope. Biltmore stick only goes to 36” DBH. The tree is 135 inches circumference at 4.5 feet. If I did my math right (which is rare for me...) that would make it 43” DBH. Found no ash leaves and plenty of maple leaves. Sugar, red and ... possibly Norway. Snow is gone but ground was a little frozen so didn’t find the best examples. But this one here I think is pretty telling:
