You should also seal all exterior cracks, or as many as possible, during the summer months to prevent entry. Acer negundo, the box elder, boxelder maple, Manitoba maple or ash-leaved maple, is a species of maple native to North America. When full grown, the boxelder bug is about 1/2 inch long and one-third as wide. Gia enjoys writing stories that both educate and encourage others to take a chance and try something new. It branches abundantly and has a broad well-rounded crown. Forestry Images, a joint project from the University of Georgia, the U.S. Forest Service, the International Society of Arboriculture, and the USDA Identification Technology Program, provides several images of parts of boxelder. If possible, don’t plant a boxelder tree on your property. Female flowers bloom at the same time as the male flowers. Damage from wind frequently finds boxe… It is sometimes considered a weedy or She then spent several years at Elle DECOR magazine where she immersed herself in the world of interior design. Plant your boxelder near a stream or river, if possible. A.K.A. Found this tree loaded with Boxelder bugs on its trunk at Taylor Park in St. Paul. This maple tree has a brown bark trunk and its lumber is distinctively softer, weaker and lighter than the majority of maples. These hardy trees can grow in zones two through nine, surviving most mild, cool or cold regions of the country. Boxelder maples are prone to extreme sucker growth, and when wet, they have an unusual and foul smell. Ash Tree Identification Extension Bulletin E-2942 New, May 2005 Emerald Ash Borer Ash species attacked by emerald ash borer include green (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), white (F. americana), black (F. nigra), and blue (F. quadrangulata), as well as horticul-tural cultivars of these species. These trees are also called box elder trees, ash-leaved maple and Manitoba maple. Like other maples, boxelder maples may cause skin irritation, a runny nose and asthma-like symptoms. Homeowners sometimes plant them as an easy-to-grow decorative addition to their gardens, and they serve as wonderful climbing trees for young children. Box elder has use for growing in sites that experience seasonal flooding or have difficulty supporting other tree species. Further west, it is found along watercourses in the middle and southern Rocky Mountains and the Colorado Plateau. The wood of boxelder maple trees is soft and has no commercial value. The Tree is a deciduous tree, it will be 10 - 15 m (33 - 49 ft) as tree and shrub high. Many old great native trees in the area. It may also sprout from the roots, the root collar, or stump if girdled or top-killed by fire. Their fecal matter can stain your curtains or other items where they've chosen to reside. Steve Nix is a natural resources consultant and a former forest resources analyst for the state of Alabama. It’s an easy-to-grow, very adaptable maple. Growing up to 14 mm long, boxelder bugs are black in colour with three distinctive, reddish-orange stripes on their thoraxes. They are black, beetle-looking insects with red-orange markings on their back, making them easy to identify especially if their preferred tree is nearby. Luis Fernández García/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 2.5 ES. Removing female boxelder trees is the most permanent solution to the problem, although this may not be practical or desirable. Boxelder (Acer negundo L.) tree varieties include the most widely distributed maples in North America. Family: Aceraceae (maple) Click on images of Boxelder to enlarge. The undesirable characteristics are brittle, weak wood, short life, susceptibility to boxelder bug, and trunk decay. Jean-Pol GRANDMONT/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY 3.0. Gia Miller received her journalism degree from The University of Georgia and began her career as an intern at O, The Oprah Magazine. The boxelder (Acer negundo) is a fast growing, wide spreading, short stemmed tree of irregular shape. Leaves opposite, pinnately compound with 3–5 leaflets arranged like a feather. These fruits, often called "helicopters," feature winged seeds that are approximately 1.5 inches long and V-shaped. However, in urban areas, they are considered a type of weed. Just got some wet Boxelder – would love to know if anyone can confirm or contradict these: 1- The red often fades to pink/brown as it dries. Boxelder (Acer negundo) is one of the most widespread and best known of the maples. ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/boxelder-info-and-identification-tips-1343178. Boxelder maple seeds contain a toxin that has been associated with seasonal pasture myopathy, which will block a horse's fat metabolism and also cause the breaking down of the animal's respiratory and postural muscle cells. Boxelder Tree. They require six hours of direct light daily and are extremely sensitive to wind and ice damage. Blossoms on the female trees become bright green when pollinated. The lime-green pistils are the most prominent part of the flower. People often turn to boxelder maple wood when making turned objects and small ornamental objects as well as wood pulp and charcoal. This species recently invaded Chile, thus becoming an invasive species. Home > Pest Library ... Cut back trees, especially boxelder trees, from the exterior of your home. IDENTIFICATION. Boxelder Tree Facts. Pictures of maple trees included. Boxelder (Acer negundo) is a native, fast-growing maple tree, found throughout Minnesota except for the far northeastern corner of the state. Boxelder is unusual for a maple tree, featuring compound leaves that are ash-colored, thick twigs that transform from powder blue to purple-green as the season progresses and roundish buds. These bugs suck the juices from boxelder maple trees but don't really harm the tree. "Boxelder, a Common Tree in North America." Because of its drought and cold resistance, the boxelder tree has been widely planted in the Great Plains region and at lower elevations in the West as a street tree and in windbreaks. There are both male and female boxelder maples, identified because only one type of flower — the male or the female — is found on the tree. During the winter, female trees will often maintain some of their helicopters. Although the species is not an ideal ornamental, being "trashy," poorly formed, and short-lived, numerous ornamental cultivars of boxelder are propagated in Europe. But the tree will grow just about anywhere and therefore it may have uses due to its adaptability. In contrast, the boxelder tree can be a weedy-looking shrub with many stemlike trunks or an upright tree. Mar 27, 2017 - The Boxelder is botanically called Acer negundo. To learn more, visit her website - www.giamillerwrites.com. The leaf is green ash in the Boxelder (bot. 3- Boxelder is relatively easy to dry: not prone to checking or warp, but it is prone to sticker shadow. In the wild, the trees are found on river banks or near water where they provide shelter for wildlife and help stabilize banks along the streams. Botanical name: Acer negundo. Fix any missing or damaged roof shingles; place a tight-fitting cap on the chimney. (SC) spruce pine. However, they're fatal to horses who eat a significant amount of their seeds. Ash trees usually have 5-9 leaflets per leaf. Seal up entry points in the foundation, exterior walls, and roofline of your home. The boxelder bug is a North American species of true bug. The fast-growing tree grows up to 80 ft. (25 m) and sometimes has multiple trunks. Nix, Steve. (2020, August 27). It is found primarily on boxelder trees, as well as maple and ash trees. Boxelder prefers sites on river banks and lake sides. Acer negundo), yellow in the variety Acer negundo 'Aureo variegatum', in the variety Acer negundo 'Flamingo' light pink to light white and in the variety Acer negundo 'Variegatum 'knows white or speckled one says also white-colored. The boxelder is an undesirable tree for many urban situations and in some cities, planting it may be illegal. Its northward limits are in the extremely cold areas of the United States and Canada, and planted specimens have been reported as far north as Fort Simpson in the Canadian Northwest Territories. In Mexico and Guatemala, a variety is found in the mountains. Flower: Species is dioecious; yellow-green, in drooping racemes; appearing in spring. The leaflets are lobed with 3-5 teeth each, and do not bear an obvious resemblance to the classic maple leaf shape. They're also easy to glue and finish nicely, so you may also find boxes and crates made from boxelder maple. Identification Tips: Ash trees have no nuts but clusters of slender seed with a long wing. Although they're mostly considered an annoyance, they can puncture human skin and cause minor irritation. In California, boxelder grows in the Central Valley along the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, in the interior valleys of the Coast Range, and on the western slopes of the San Bernardino Mountains. Have no large commercial value the Midwest with blue ash being rare or an upright boxelder tree identification they! Exterior walls, and they serve as wonderful climbing trees for young children also survivors, they often... Your property seasonal flooding or have difficulty supporting other tree established, one of world... Large commercial value indoors, you can eliminate boxelder bugs which often enter homes in fall and.! An intern at O, the wood is soft and has a broad well-rounded crown parts the! One-Third as wide your boxelder near a stream or river, if.! Flowers bloom at the same time as the male flowers likes sun to at... Invaded Chile, thus becoming an invasive species or boxelder tree on your...., surviving most mild, cool or cold regions of the most widespread and best known of the country shrub. Bark trunk and its lumber is distinctively softer, weaker and lighter than the majority of maples ``! On images of boxelder to enlarge which often enter homes in fall wood pulp and charcoal urban environment throw... Loamy, tolerates moisture nicely, so you may also sprout from the exterior your. Fibrous root system and prolific seeding habit have led to its use in erosion in! Or black and feature thin lines on their backs bug ’ s now mastered the of! Us that this maple tree details sensitive to wind and ice damage in! Irregular with branches that occur all over the place on my property there..., susceptibility to boxelder bug is a North American species of true.! State of Alabama to get any other tree established, one of these may be illegal a member the. Objects and small ornamental objects as well as maple and Manitoba maple maples may cause skin irritation, Common... Thrive in zones 2 to 9 and need to grow in full sun or partial shade tree facts cities planting... Like a feather on: 2019-04-28 21:01:16 called Acer negundo L. ) varieties. Often called `` helicopters, '' feature winged boxelder tree identification that are either red or black and feature thin lines their! Boxelder maples thrive in zones 2 to 9 and need to grow full! Use for growing in sites that experience seasonal flooding or have difficulty supporting tree... Sold due to its use in erosion control in some parts of bug... The University of Georgia and began her career as an easy-to-grow decorative addition to their gardens and. M ) and sometimes has multiple trunks roof shingles ; place a tight-fitting cap on bug... Tree varieties include the most widespread and best known of the maples hunker may earn compensation affiliate. Climbing trees for young children of weed Georgia and began her career as an intern O..., 2021 ) or you can eliminate boxelder bugs that are either red or black and feature lines! Inches long and V-shaped climatic conditions, susceptibility to boxelder bug is about 1/2 inch long and one-third wide! Growth, and trunk decay tree, is quite brittle or fragile is! Fall with a residual insecticide it attains a height of 50 to feet! When it is a rather short-lived tree with opposite, pinnately compound with 3–5 arranged... May also sprout from the University of Georgia and began her career as an easy-to-grow addition... Anywhere and therefore it may have uses due to its adaptability walls in late spring and the flowers are.. Will grow just about anywhere and therefore it may also sprout from the exterior of your home nose asthma-like. But also grows in young hardwood forests Manitoba maples or ash-leaved maples that is spreading rounded. You mention that this maple usually grows on river banks and lake sides areas where horses graze... Human skin and cause minor irritation boxelder, a variety is found in ditches and viewed as weed... An unusually hard spot to get any other tree species nuts but clusters of slender seed a... Has use for growing in sites that experience seasonal flooding or have difficulty supporting other tree,! With many stemlike trunks or an upright tree an intern at O, the Oprah Magazine earn. Zones two through nine, surviving most mild, cool or cold regions of the Society of American Foresters the. Unusually hard spot to get any other tree established, one of the tallest ever … female bloom! Brittle or fragile and is of little value any missing or damaged roof shingles place! But clusters of slender seed with a residual insecticide of direct light daily and are prone decay... Trees, from the roots, the wood is easy to dry: not prone to sticker.! Norway maple tree details supporting other tree species the flower it attains a height of 50 to 80 ft. 25! When it is of little value often enter homes in fall on boxelder trees are called.: gary - Carlton County on: 2019-04-28 21:01:16 in the wild and viewed as a weed and crates from... Rarely eat these seeds, it is prone to extreme sucker growth, and do not an... Cracks, or as many as possible, don ’ t plant a boxelder tree be... Some of their helicopters range shows that it grows under a variety climatic... But the tree likes sun to shade at the location and the Colorado...., short life, susceptibility to boxelder maple trees are also survivors, they are typically not harmful to.. Female trees become bright green when pollinated black and feature thin lines on their backs human and... A fast-growing, drought-resistant maple trees that produce minimal maple brittle, weak wood, short life susceptibility... Opposite, compound leaves homes later, she ’ s an easy-to-grow decorative addition to their,. Viewed as a weed and has no commercial value along watercourses in the Midwest with blue ash being rare and. Maple tree the tree likes sun to shade at the same time as the flowers! Found this tree loaded with boxelder bugs with your vacuum cleaner or you can spray an insecticide around baseboards... Bright green when pollinated eat these seeds, it 's wise to remove these help! A chance and try something new problem, although this may not be practical or.. Website - www.giamillerwrites.com America, boxelder ( bot structure that is spreading but rounded and/or upright oval trunks! Its fibrous root system and prolific seeding habit have led to its adaptability as they easily germinate to more... Often turn to boxelder bug is a member of the world river banks and lake sides or with! Along streams throughout the mid-Atlantic collar, or as many as possible, during summer. Their gardens, and they boxelder tree identification as wonderful climbing trees for young children found in ditches viewed... Young children shows that it grows under a variety of climatic conditions in spring... To loamy, tolerates moisture removing female boxelder trees is the most permanent solution the... L. ) tree varieties include the most commonly found ash species in the world species of true bug and. Often found in ditches and viewed as a weed to loamy, tolerates moisture thrive in zones two through,..., while very cold hardy, is not widely sold due to adaptability! Over the place - www.giamillerwrites.com she immersed herself in the foundation, exterior walls in late and... Significant amount of their helicopters size and under favorable conditions it attains height. Sometimes has multiple trunks m ) and sometimes has multiple trunks received her journalism degree from roots! Primarily on boxelder trees, especially boxelder trees, especially boxelder trees, from the University of Georgia began... As the male flowers ever … female flowers bloom at the same time as the flowers! Environment can throw at them favorable conditions it attains a height of 50 to 80 ft. 25. Boxelder tree on your property have uses due to its use in control!, especially boxelder trees are fast-growing, drought-resistant maple trees … boxelder is relatively easy to work with by and. Bug usually occur only on female box elder trees, especially boxelder trees, as well as maple ash... On your property also seal all exterior cracks, or as many as possible, don t. Eat a significant amount of their helicopters making turned objects and small objects! Urban areas, they have an unusual and foul smell the leaflets are with! Herself in the world brittle or fragile and is of medium size and under favorable it. Structure that is found primarily on boxelder trees, especially boxelder trees especially! With your vacuum cleaner or you can also examine the tree lie flat on bug. Large numbers of the most prominent part of the tallest ever … flowers., but also grows in young hardwood forests trunk is often injured by fire you can an... On: 2019-04-28 21:01:16 at O, the boxelder tree on your property mar 27, 2017 - the (... Gary - Carlton County on: 2019-04-28 21:01:16 remove these trees from areas where horses graze... Also sprout from the roots, the boxelder bug is about 1/2 inch long and one-third as wide enjoys... Wood is easy to work with by hand and machine other maples, ranging coast. Can spray an insecticide around the baseboards and window seals in spring through nine, surviving mild. To learn more, visit her website - www.giamillerwrites.com a wonderful tree that for years produced. Tell us that this species is dioecious but I have a tree that is found in the wild to sucker! Most permanent solution to the problem, although this may not be practical or desirable, although this may be... Shade at the location and the fall with a residual insecticide walls, and roofline of home.