Box Elder
Acer negundo
Also listed as Negundo aceroides, Negundo fraxinifolium
Also known as Ash-leaved Maple, Manitoba Maple, Boxelder Maple
Climate Match for your location
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A fast-growing deciduous tree with compound leaves that turn brilliant yellow in fall and distinctive winged seeds. Highly adaptable but considered weedy in many regions due to prolific self-seeding.
Why grow it
Box elder grows significantly faster than most other maples, making it useful for quick windbreaks, shade, or pioneer plantings in disturbed areas. Its compound leaves and modest mature size (around 50 feet) suit sites where larger sugar maples or red maples would be oversized. It tolerates poor soils, wet conditions, and urban pollution better than many alternatives, though it sacrifices the longevity and structural strength of slower-growing species.
Watch out for
Box elder wood is relatively soft and brittle, making mature trees prone to branch breakage in high winds or heavy snow loads. The tree produces abundant sap that can attract insects and foster fungal issues in poorly drained soils. Shallow, aggressive root systems may compete with nearby plants and can damage sidewalks or pipes if planted close to infrastructure.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Sapindaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Notable Cultivars
Acer negundo 'Variegatum' is a cultivar of Acer negundo. This cultivar carries white-margined leaves, a variegated form selected from the plain green species.
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A fast-growing deciduous tree with compound leaves that turn brilliant yellow in fall and distinctive winged seeds. Highly adaptable but considered weedy in many regions due to prolific self-seeding.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Box Elder grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Box elder grows significantly faster than most other maples, making it useful for quick windbreaks, shade, or pioneer plantings in disturbed areas. Its compound leaves and modest mature size (around 50 feet) suit sites where larger sugar maples or red maples would be oversized. It tolerates poor soils, wet conditions, and urban pollution better than many alternatives, though it sacrifices the longevity and structural strength of slower-growing species.
Watch out for
Box elder wood is relatively soft and brittle, making mature trees prone to branch breakage in high winds or heavy snow loads. The tree produces abundant sap that can attract insects and foster fungal issues in poorly drained soils. Shallow, aggressive root systems may compete with nearby plants and can damage sidewalks or pipes if planted close to infrastructure.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Sapindaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Canopy
The tallest trees that form the overstory.
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar sub-canopy trees you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.
Companion Planting
Plants well with
Notable Cultivars
Acer negundo 'Variegatum' is a cultivar of Acer negundo. This cultivar carries white-margined leaves, a variegated form selected from the plain green species.