Home and Landscape
Box Elder
- Acer negundo
- Family Aceraceae (Maple family)
Plant Identification
Box elders are deciduous trees that can grow up to 60 feet tall. They are generally fast growing but they do have a number of faults including brittleness, suckering, susceptibility to boxelder bugs, and a tendency to seed heavily. There are varieties available that provide variegated foliage, which improves their landscape quality.
Optimum conditions for growth
Boxelders are adapted to a wide range of climate zones and are native to most of the United States. They do best in full sun to part shade and with occasional deep watering. Variegated forms can burn in inland areas with hot afternoon sun.
