Box elder.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Deciduous tree

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Indoor light

Bright indirect

Water

Every 7 to 14 days

Mature size

15 to 20 meters

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 2 to 9

Bloom time

Early to mid spring

Care

This tree is tough and requires little intervention once established. Keep an eye out for box elder bugs which are attracted to the tree, and prune away dead or crossing branches to maintain a healthy structure.

Watering

Water deeply during dry spells to keep the root zone consistently moist.

Feeding

Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring before new growth appears.

Pruning

Prune during the dormant winter season to avoid heavy sap bleeding.

Repotting

Repot young trees every few years if grown in containers to refresh the soil.

Soil

Moist, well-draining soil

Soil pH

6.0 to 7.5

Temperature

-40 to 35°C

Humidity

30 to 80%

Safety

People

The plant is not commonly considered toxic to humans, but its seeds contain hypoglycin A and should not be eaten.

Children

The winged seeds are a choking hazard for small children if ingested.

Contact allergens

The sap may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

The windborne pollen can trigger allergic reactions in some people during the spring.

Edibility

The sap can be tapped for syrup, but it is generally considered inferior in quality to sugar maple.

How to identify it

• Compound leaves with three to five leaflets
• Green twigs with a waxy bloom
• Light gray bark with shallow furrows
• V-shaped samara fruit wings
• Opposite leaf arrangement on branches

Height

10 to 20m

Spread

8 to 15m

Leaves

bright green, yellow, deciduous

Flowers

yellowish green, 0.5 to 1cm

Fruit

tan, brown, Autumn

Problems to watch for

• Boxelder BugCommon
• CankerUncommon
• Leaf ScorchUncommon
• Verticillium WiltUncommon

Growing it

Propagation

seed, cuttings

When to plant

Spring, Autumn

Plant understory shrubs that tolerate occasional root competition to create a naturalistic woodland border.

Grows well with

• Serviceberry · They share similar moisture requirements and thrive in woodland edges.
• Wild Ginger · This groundcover thrives in the dappled shade provided by the maple canopy.

Similar species

• Green Ash · The compound leaves are often confused with those of the boxelder maple.
• Sugar Maple · It is a related species but possesses simple leaves and much stronger wood.

Science

Family

Sapindaceae

Genus

Acer

Order

Sapindales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Widespread across North America.

Conservation

This species is widespread and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in riparian zones and disturbed soils where it can quickly establish itself as a pioneer species.

Value to wildlife

nectar source, nesting site for birds

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Uses

shade tree, windbreak, erosion control, syrup production

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is this a good tree for a small yard?

No, it grows quite large and has brittle wood that can break in high winds.

Why do I have so many bugs on my house?

Boxelder bugs feed on the tree and often seek shelter in nearby structures during autumn.

Where the name comes from

The common name refers to its leaves, which resemble those of elder (Sambucus), and its pale wood, once likened to boxwood, while the scientific name Acer negundo highlights its maple genus and compound leaf structure.

Good to know

• It is one of the most widely distributed maples in North America.
• The wood is soft and brittle, making it prone to storm damage.
• It is a fast growing tree that can colonize disturbed areas quickly.
• The name negundo comes from a Sanskrit word for a different plant with similar leaves.