Boxelder (Acer negundo) - How to Grow & Care Guide

Plant Snapshot

Common Name: Boxelder
Latin Name: Acer negundo
Hardiness Zones: USDA zones 2 to 9.
Typical Height: 20–50 ft (6–15 m).
Typical Spread: 20–35 ft (6–10.5 m).
Bloom Period: Spring, typically early to mid spring.
Soil Preferences: Prefers moist fertile soils but tolerates a wide range including dry, compacted and alkaline soils. Survives periodic flooding. Poorly drained permanently waterlogged or highly saline soils reduce vigor.
Light Preferences: Full sun to partial shade. Performs best with ample sun for robust flowering and seed production.
Toxicity: Not widely listed as highly toxic to humans or common pets. Red maples and some other maples can be toxic to horses. Verify with poison control or a veterinarian for species specific risks.
Propagation: Seed and root suckers are the most common means of spread. Seed requires cold stratification. Vegetative propagation by cuttings or grafting is possible but less common.

Key Facts

A North American maple native to much of the continent.
Fast growing and relatively short lived compared with many maples.
Leaves are pinnately compound with 3 to 7 leaflets.
Produces paired samaras in spring after flowering.
Often forms multi-stemmed habit and spreads from seed and root sprouts.
Tolerant of moist and periodically flooded sites.
Performs well in disturbed and urban sites.
Male and female flowers are usually on separate trees.

Boxelder (Acer negundo) is a fast growing North American maple used for quick shade and for stabilizing wet or disturbed ground, but it spreads readily by seed and root suckers and is shorter lived than many other maples.

Identification

Leaves are pinnately compound with 3 to 7 leaflets rather than the typical single maple leaf. Trees often form multiple stems and produce paired samaras in spring after flowering. Male and female flowers are usually on separate trees, so seeded stands commonly appear where both sexes are present.

Where to grow and best uses

Boxelder performs well in moist soils and tolerates periodically flooded, compacted and alkaline sites, which makes it common along streams and in urban or disturbed areas. It does best in full sun to partial shade. Hardiness is reported across USDA zones 2 to 9, with slower growth and possible winter dieback in the coldest zones.

Planting and spacing

Space trees according to mature spread. Open-site specimens commonly reach about 20 to 35 feet across, and multi-stem clumps can occupy the same area. Planting season varies with climate, but choose a time that allows roots to establish before extreme heat or cold in your area.

Watering and soil

Boxelder prefers moist fertile soils for best growth but tolerates a wide range of conditions. On consistently moist sites trees grow more vigorously and reach larger sizes. On dry or poor sites growth is reduced but the tree often persists.

After flowering and controlling spread

Flowers are followed by paired samaras each spring. Seed and root suckers are the primary ways boxelder spreads. To limit unwanted naturalizing remove seedlings while small and cut or dig out root sprouts. Heavy seed crops and suckering can make this species difficult to contain in small yards.

Propagation

Boxelder spreads naturally by seed and by root sprouts. Seed benefits from cold stratification. Vegetative propagation by cuttings or grafting is possible but less commonly used than growing from seed.

Frequently asked questions

How fast does Boxelder grow?: Boxelder is described as fast growing compared with many maples. Growth rate varies with site quality and moisture, with faster development on rich moist sites.
How can I identify Boxelder?: Look for pinnately compound leaves with 3 to 7 leaflets, a multi-stemmed habit, and paired samaras produced in spring.
When does Boxelder bloom?: Boxelder blooms in spring, with exact timing varying by local climate and latitude.
Where does Boxelder do best?: It performs well in full sun to partial shade and tolerates moist, periodically flooded, compacted, and disturbed soils. It is commonly used on streambanks and in urban sites.
How do I control unwanted spread?: Remove seedlings early and cut or excavate root suckers. Regularly removing seed sources reduces reestablishment.