Boxelder Maple

Boxelder Maple is notable because of the usual leaves this species has compared to all other native maples. Instead of the normal simple leaf, it instead has compound leaves, which means it has leaflets. There are two other maples in the arboretum that have compound leaves, Paper Bark Maple and the Three-Flowered Maple, but these are native to Asia.

The common name comes from the similarities it has to other plants that are not closely related to maples. The “box” comes from the similar whitish wood to that of Common Box (Buxus sempervirens), and the “elder” comes from the similar compund leaves to the Elders (Sambucus).

Common Name(s)	Boxelder Maple, Ashleaf Maple
Latin Name	Acer negundo
Indigenous Name(s)
Cultivar/Variety	‘Sensation’
Commercial Name

More about Tree #118:

Where to find Arbor Walk #118

Data on the space around this tree

Data on this tree over time

More about Boxelder Maple in general:

How to identify Boxelder Maple

Relationship of Acer negundo to other species in the Arboretum

Global Distribution of Boxelder Maple

Additional Resources on the Boxelder Maple