Box Elder

Acer negundo

NPSOT, NTX, NLCP Level 3, Marie-Theres Herz; Herbarium Sheet

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Native Habitat: Woodland, Wetland or Riparian

East Central Texas Plains, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain

Maintenance

Hardy and fast-growing, it is planted for shade and shelterbelts but is short-lived and easily broken in storms.

Comments

Ash-leaf maple or box elder is usually a small to medium-sized tree, 35-50 ft. tall, commonly with a short trunk and widely spreading branches and light green foliage. It doesn’t look like other maples because of its irregular growth, sprouting base, and compound leaves. Fall foliage yellow. Larval Host: Cecropia Silkmoth

Growth Form

Tree

Height

35 to

60 ft

Spread

30 to

50 ft

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Medium

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Bloom Color

Yellow, Green, Brown

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Fall Color, Seeds, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Birds, Moths, Bees

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References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ACNE2. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Acer+negundo&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=22748&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48.

Native Plant Society of Texas