Outstanding Features:
Adaptability to stressful sites.

Description:
Height: 30-50'
Width: 25-40'
Hardiness Zone: 2b

Boxelder is not a high quality tree and is usually not recommended, with the exception of the improved cultivars listed below. However, because of its excellent tolerance to stressful sites it has potential for use where other trees will not perform well. Boxelder has pinnately compound leaves with 3-5 leaflets. On female trees, long clusters of winged seeds develop and often persist through the winter. This tree seeds freely and can become a weed problem. Boxelder is native throughout most of the United States and is often found on streambanks and other moist areas.

Requirements and Culture:
Boxelder is very tolerant to stressful sites and requires little special care. Tolerates both wet and dry soils and is pH adaptable. Prune to improve form.

Limitations:
Has fairly brittle branches and breaks up in wind and ice storms. Provides habitat for boxelder bugs which can become a nuisance in and around homes in the fall in years of heavy populations. Boxelder is highly susceptible to injury from 2,4-D herbicide .

Selected Cultivars:

`Baron' ­ a seedless selection from Canada.

`Sensation' ­ has slower growth, better branch structure, and red fall color.

Photo Credit: 1 MLA; 2 K. Warren. Photo 2 is `Sensation'.

Minnesota Power | University of Minnesota | Northern States Power Company

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