FAST GROWING, HARDY NATIVE SHADE TREE
FEATURES:
- Dark green leaves turn a brilliant yellow in fall
- Fast growth rate provides shade in no time
- Bright green to yellow winged samaras adorn the tree in mid-spring which persist into winter as a food source
- Tolerant of almost all soil types
- As a maple, you can tap the Box Elder for syrup
- Over 285 species of moths and butterflies depend on the Box Elder for survival at their caterpillar stage
- May Benefit & Attract: Thrushes, orioles, warblers, grosbeaks, and woodpeckers
- The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.
- This bird-friendly native plant provides food and shelter for local and migrating birds and other wildlife
- All Audubon® branded trees and plants are grown 100% Neonic-free by Bower & Branch, making these plants safer for the birds and safer for the environment.
- Hand Selected, Fresh from the Grower
- Ships in a plant-safe designed box
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 2-10
- Mature Height: 30-50' tall
- Mature Width: 30-50' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun
- Spacing: 40-60' apart
Audubon® Native Box Elder Treeling
Bower & Branch Trees and Plants
Audubon® Plants for Birds: Acer negundo
Regular price
1(866) 873-3888
FAST GROWING, HARDY NATIVE SHADE TREE
FEATURES:
- Dark green leaves turn a brilliant yellow in fall
- Fast growth rate provides shade in no time
- Bright green to yellow winged samaras adorn the tree in mid-spring which persist into winter as a food source
- Tolerant of almost all soil types
- As a maple, you can tap the Box Elder for syrup
- Over 285 species of moths and butterflies depend on the Box Elder for survival at their caterpillar stage
- May Benefit & Attract: Thrushes, orioles, warblers, grosbeaks, and woodpeckers
- The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.
- This bird-friendly native plant provides food and shelter for local and migrating birds and other wildlife
- All Audubon® branded trees and plants are grown 100% Neonic-free by Bower & Branch, making these plants safer for the birds and safer for the environment.
- Hand Selected, Fresh from the Grower
- Ships in a plant-safe designed box
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 2-10
- Mature Height: 30-50' tall
- Mature Width: 30-50' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun
- Spacing: 40-60' apart
Why plant Audubon® Native Box Elder Treeling?
Boxelder (or Box Elder) is a familiar sight along watercourses, roadsides, forest edges, and even vacant lots in the city. Birds everywhere are happy about that! Its bright green leaves, early to appear in spring, host a vast array of caterpillars that nourish insectivorous songbirds like robins, orioles, and warblers. Female trees produce seeds loved by Evening and Pine Grosbeaks. What’s more, with age, soft Boxelder trunks often give way to decay, making homes for cavity-nesting birds such as woodpeckers. For eco-friendly gardens and wild and semi-wild spaces, Boxelder is an easy, accommodating choice!
The adaptable Boxelder Tree has established a native range that extends all over the U.S. and into southern Canada (where it is known as “Manitoba Maple”), as well as into northern Mexico. In the wild, it typically springs up near streams and wetlands, where it stabilizes the soil and prevents erosion. It also manages quite well in dry soil, providing valuable shade in the Plains states. Fun fact: Boxelder can be tapped for syrup, like Sugar Maple! Although its leaves look like Poison Ivy (they are not itchy), it is actually a Maple Tree.
How to use Audubon® Native Box Elder Treeling in the landscape?
Boxelder is a super-fast-growing tree. With plenty of sun and water, it can shoot up three feet or more per year in its youth. With its typically low, wide-spreading branches, will quickly become a top-notch climbing tree for the kids.
Audubon® Native Plants & Trees
Audubon is devoted to protecting birds and the places they need, while Bower & Branch is devoted to the growth of true native trees and plants–no cultivars or hybrids. Together, we strive to unite communities in conservation and inspire individuals to cultivate a better world for birds starting in their own backyards, balconies, or patios. By guiding and recommending trees and plants truly native and beneficial to your region, we can really start to make a difference.
What is the definition of Native?
“In the United States, a native plant is defined as one that was naturally found in a particular area before European colonization. Native plants are the foundation of a region’s biodiversity, providing essential food sources and shelter for birds, especially those threatened by the changing climate. Since native plants are adapted to local precipitation and soil conditions, they generally require less upkeep, therefore helping the environment and saving you time, water, and money.” – The National Audubon Society
Learn how you can help birds in your home and community through Audubon’s Plants for Birds program.
Audubon® is a licensed and registered trademark of the National Audubon Society. All rights reserved.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 2-10
How To Plant Audubon® Native Box Elder Treeling
Plant your Boxelder in full sun for best results, although light shade is acceptable as well. A moist site will yield the fastest growth. Boxelder tends to be a short-lived tree, but occasionally you’ll spot a massive specimen growing somewhere, so it’s clear that isn’t always the case. One issue you may encounter with your Boxelder Tree is Boxelder bugs. These orange-red and black insects gather in large groups in the fall, looking for a warm place to overwinter. They’re considered a nuisance, although they’re harmless to people, pets, plants, and trees. They eat the seeds of Boxelder.
How To Water
Water twice weekly for the first 3-5 weeks; then water weekly for the remainder of the year until winter. When you water, water slowly and thoroughly. Watering needs may be altered due to extreme weather conditions.
How To Fertilize
Incorporate Elements Starter Plant food granular form into the soil when planting. If planting in spring or summer, start fertilizing late fall using Elements Starter Plant food granular form on an annual basis each late fall. If planting in the fall, use Elements fertilizer while planting and start your regular annual fertilizing the following fall. Continue this for the first three years to get your plant well established as it gives your tree the nutrients it needs to produce lush new growth for the following spring.
How To Prune
A young tree may need a little extra support to ensure that it lives a long and healthy life. Stake your new Treeling with a 6-8 foot tall wood or bamboo stake. Use expandable ties that will stretch as the tree grows, fastening the stake to the main trunk from the base to the top. Check the ties every few months, at least twice a year; ensuring the ties are not digging into the trunk. If there is any sign of this, take the tie off and reattach it, giving the tree more room to grow.
As your tree grows, remove a few of the lower branches each year in mid to late summer. Remove these lower branches before they reach 1/2 inch in diameter. It is better to make small cuts to avoid cutting a large, more mature branch - this is too stressful for the tree. Each year, make any corrective pruning needed, paying particular attention to removing damaged branches, rubbing branches, multiple leaders at the top, or suckers at the base. Limit any pruning to no more than 25% of the branching structure in a given year. Pruning benefits the tree and helps to achieve a balanced tree form. Remember to not prune maples in early spring, the sap can bleed excessively.
After two or three years you can feel free to remove the stake from the tree.
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
