Boxelder Maple (Acer negundo)

Sun Needs:

• Full sun to partial shade
• Tolerates a wide range of light conditions
• Best growth in full sun

Bloom Time:

• Early spring
• Inconspicuous yellow-green flowers appear before leaves
• Dioecious—male and female flowers occur on separate trees

Size:

Height: 30 to 50 feet (can reach up to 70 feet in ideal conditions)
Width: 25 to 40 feet

Attributes:

• Fast-growing and tolerant of poor soils
• Compound leaves with 3–7 leaflets
• Produces winged seeds (samaras) in large quantities
• Provides habitat and food for birds and pollinators
• Native to much of the U.S. and Canada

Care Tips:

• Thrives in moist, well-drained soils but tolerates drought and poor conditions
• Minimal maintenance once established
• Prune to remove weak or damaged limbs, especially in urban settings
• Not ideal for small landscapes due to its size and tendency to self-seed

Pest Watch:

• Susceptible to boxelder bugs, which are mostly a nuisance
• May also experience issues with aphids, scale, and powdery mildew
• Brittle wood can be prone to storm damage