Boxelder Maple
Acer negundo · Deciduous broadleaf hardwood
Plant Family
Sapindaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree / Forest Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Species type (wild type Acer negundo)
Hardiness Zones
Thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 2 through 9, demonstrating exceptional cold and heat adaptability.
About This Tree
A medium-sized, fast-growing deciduous tree with a somewhat irregular, spreading, and rounded crown. Often features multiple trunks and a somewhat messy growth habit. Known for being the only North American maple with pinnately compound leaves.
Leaf Characteristics
Pinnately compound leaves usually with 3 to 5 (sometimes 7) leaflets. Leaflets are ovate to lanceolate, 2 to 4 inches long, with coarsely serrated or lobed margins, bright green above and paler underneath.
Bark Characteristics
Light gray to brown bark, becoming thick with deep, narrow interlacing ridges and furrows as the tree ages.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to North America, widely distributed across the United States and Canada.
Growing Season
Leafs out in mid-spring, flowers before or with the leaves in early spring, produces winged samaras in late spring to summer, and drops leaves in autumn.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Prefers full sun to partial shade. Highly adaptable to various moisture levels, capable of tolerating both wet soils along streams and dry upland conditions 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 75 years.
Special Characteristics
Very hardy and adaptable to urban pollution and poor soils, but structurally weak with brittle wood prone to storm damage.
Wildlife & Ecology
Provides food for squirrels and various birds that eat the seeds and buds. Cavities in older trunks offer nesting sites for birds and small mammals.