1 named cultivar

‘Sensation’Sensation Boxelder

treeN. America Native

Boxelder

Acer negundo

The Story

Plant Bio

Acer negundo, boxelder, is a fast-growing deciduous maple native across central and eastern North America. Unusually for a maple its leaves are pinnately compound with three to five leaflets, closely resembling poison ivy. Trees are dioecious, and the winged samaras on female trees hang on well into winter.

Its virtue is toughness: it establishes quickly on difficult sites, tolerates both standing water and periodic drought, and grows where better trees will not. That speed comes at a cost in weak, brittle wood, a short life and heavy self-seeding, so it is best used where those traits matter least.

Uses & Benefits:

Rapid, light-canopied shade with distinctive compound leaves and persistent winged seeds.

Establishes fast on wet, compacted or otherwise poor ground where more refined trees fail.

Host for imperial moth larvae; seeds feed birds and small mammals through the winter.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Tree

Height

480 inches

Width

480 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Moderate

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Central and North America

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in autumn or early spring in almost any soil.
Choose full sun to partial shade; it is not fussy about aspect.
Allow generous space, as it reaches 30 to 50 feet tall and wide.
Water through the first season; established trees rarely need it.
Remove crossing and weak branches early to build sound structure.
Pull unwanted seedlings while small, as they appear readily.

Pro Tip

Choose a male tree where you can: females shed heavy crops of samaras and seed themselves around freely.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Use it for fast shade on difficult sites 🌳
Prune young trees to build strong branch structure ✂️
Site it away from buildings and parked cars 🏠
Pull volunteer seedlings while they are small 🌱

Don't

Plant it as a long-lived specimen tree ❌
Site it where brittle limbs could fall on structures ❌
Expect it to stay put; it self-seeds freely ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Monitor
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Fast shade for difficult or wet sitesWindbreak and screen plantingNaturalised streamside and floodplain planting

Companion Plants

Red Twig Dogwood Elderberry Buttonbush Switchgrass Sycamore

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Boxelder questions

What zones can Boxelder grow in?

Boxelder is hardy in USDA Zones 4–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Boxelder deer resistant?

Yes — Boxelder is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Boxelder bloom?

Boxelder typically blooms in spring through early spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Boxelder need full sun?

Boxelder does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.

Is Boxelder drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Boxelder handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.