Practically nothing will grow under a Norway maple; the shade is dense and the fibrous surface root system sucks all nutrients and moisture out of the soil. I once had luck establishing Liriope spicata (not L. muscari) around the trunk of a silver maple, but I doubt I would have had success establishing out to the drip line. You may want to consider plants in pots.

I've heard Solomons Seal can grow in dense shade of a maple tree.

Hi,

I have one of these pain in the neck trees too. Solomon Seal is growing fairly well under the dripline, with European Ginger, Variegated Carex, Viola labradorica and epimedium.

I am trying to find a shrub that will grow there, but so far, I am not having much luck. I already had to move out from under the canopy, one Ninebark Dart's Gold, which did great once it was out from under there, and I have a Viburnum Winterthur that hates it there and has died back to the ground once already. I am planning on trying to move that out in the spring.

If anyone else has any experience with shrubs near maples, I could use a few more ideas. I need screening for a neighbor's yard, around the base and out to the drip line of the tree.

Thanks :-)