Boxelder
Acer negundo
A fast, weedy native maple with compound leaves, common on disturbed ground and riverbanks. Weak-wooded and short-lived with leaning multi-stems, it is a frequent storm-failure and removal subject — and the boxelder bug's host plant.
Field reference
Family
Sapindaceae
Growth rate
Fast
Mature size
35–50 ft tall, 30–45 ft spread
Hardiness zone
2–9
Soil preference
Tolerates almost anything — wet, dry, flooded, compacted, or poor soils
Sun
Full sun to part shade
Pruning window
Dormant season; expect vigorous watersprout regrowth
Wood properties
Soft, weak, low-density maple wood (~0.44 SG) that fails readily. Multiple leaning codominant stems and included bark make it a high-failure, frequently rigged removal.
Native range
Widespread across North America, the most broadly distributed native maple
Green weight
47 lb/ft³
Pests & diseases to watch
Asian Longhorned Beetlepest · Severe severity · peak Adults active and emerging July through OctoberAnthracnosefungus · Moderate severity · peak Spring, during cool, wet, rainy weather at and just after leaf-outVerticillium Wiltfungus · High severity · peak Symptoms appear in summer, often after heat or drought stress (June–September)Aphidspest · Low severity · peak Populations build in spring and early summer, with flushes through the season
Common questions
What are the black-and-red bugs swarming my boxelder?
Those are boxelder bugs, which feed on the seeds of female trees and gather on warm walls in fall. They are a nuisance but harmless to the tree and the house; planting male trees avoids the seed source.
Is boxelder worth keeping?
It provides quick shade on tough sites, but its weak, brittle wood and leaning multi-stem habit make mature trees prone to failure. Near targets, regular risk assessment or replacement is often the better call.
Related species in Sapindaceae
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