Box Elder Maple

The trunk is relatively short and tapering, and the crown is spreading and bushy. Although it grows best on moist soils, box-elder is drought and cold resistant. The Box Elder Maple tree, Acer negundo, is also commonly known as ashleaf maple, Manitoba maple, box-elder maple, and western box-elder. The seeds are a source of food for birds and mammals, and are important because they stay on the tree through winter, when other food resources are scarce. Boxelder bugs eat seeds on female trees. Box Elder trees are fast growing and tolerate poor conditions. It can also tolerate flooding for extended periods (up to a month). This deciduous maple tree is a small-to-medium-sized tree, reaching heights of 50 to 75 feet, with a trunk diameter up to 4 feet. It has a thick trunk and upright branching habit, but is more often seen as a smaller tree with cane-like, bright green branches. These shade trees have brittle wood. ... more