Norway Maple street tree

I'm in Western MA (zone 5a) and we have a Norway Maple as one of our street trees. Other than a few scraggly blades of grass, nothing is growing under it. Can anyone suggest good plants (natives, or at least non-invasives) to put under it? Because the tree is next to the sidewalk and street, I don't want to grow food there, but insectary plants would be very welcome, especially if they're attractive and tolerant of road salt.

I did find the following suggestions: http://adamsgardennativeplants.blogspot.com/2010/12/under-norway-maple.html but those are for MD, which is a considerably warmer climate. I also don't have a sense for which of those plants would be appropriate for encouraging local beneficial insects (especially bees and anything that attacks cabbage moths).

Thanks!

I planted creeping phlox around a silver maple at my mother's house. It was very slow to get started. It looks good though. The roots are almost solid all over that side of the yard. If it was in my yard I'd have to cut it and grow something better. Norway maple is better than silver maple in a lot of ways though.