Boxelder
Acer negundo 路 Sapindaceae 路 also Manitoba maple, Ash-leaved maple
A fast, irregular, round-crowned tree and the only native maple with compound leaves, with green young twigs and little fall color. Female trees carry heavy clusters of winged seeds all winter and seed themselves everywhere, and the weak, multi-trunked wood breaks in storms and ice. It is a prairie windbreak staple and a pioneer on waste ground, but nurseries rarely sell it; male cultivars like 'Kelly's Gold' and 'Flamingo' avoid seeds and boxelder bugs.
Where it stands
Care
Needs little care; plant male cultivars to avoid seed litter and boxelder bugs, which breed on female trees and invade houses in fall. Prune for structure when dormant and expect storm cleanup. Anthracnose, powdery mildew, cankers and borers occur.
Benefits
Good for