Boxelder Maple
Acer negundo · Deciduous, broadleaf, hardwood
Plant Family
Sapindaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Forest Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Species type (wild type), variable leaf forms
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 2 through 9, demonstrating high cold and heat tolerance across diverse climates.
About This Tree
A fast-growing, medium-sized tree with an irregular, often multi-stemmed and spreading crown. Known for being the only maple with compound leaves, it often has a somewhat messy growth habit and soft wood.
Leaf Characteristics
Pinnately compound leaves, typically with 3 to 5 (sometimes 7) leaflets. Leaflets are oval to lance-shaped, 2 to 4 inches long, light green in summer, turning yellow in autumn, with coarsely toothed or lobed margins.
Bark Characteristics
Light gray to brown bark, becoming thick and deeply furrowed with intersecting ridges as the tree ages, sometimes developing a corky texture.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to North America, widely distributed across the United States and Canada
Growing Season
Leafs out in early spring, flowers in mid-spring before leaves fully expand, produces winged seeds in summer that mature in autumn, drops leaves and enters dormancy in late autumn
Sunlight & Water Needs
Thrives in full sun to partial shade. Highly adaptable to various moisture levels, tolerating both wet soils and moderate drought once established.
Mature Size
Expected mature height of 30 to 50 feet with a similar or wider spread. Fast growth rate with a relatively short lifespan of 60 to 80 years.
Special Characteristics
Very adaptable and tough, tolerates urban pollution and poor soils, but prone to storm damage due to weak wood and included bark.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides food for various birds and mammals through its seeds and buds. Cavities in older trees offer nesting sites for wildlife and insects.