Sun or shade. Deciduous. Fast growing and fairly short lived. A homely maple species with profuse green trunk suckers and ragged compound leaves containing 3-7 leaflets; these can strikingly resemble poison ivy (which often grows in the same riparian settings). As with other maples, the sap was tapped for syrup by early settlers.
Though uncommon in residential landscapes, box elder is probably the maple best adapted to San Antonio, growing into a medium-sized drought-tolerant tree. However it is irregular, weak-wooded and considered somewhat weedy in the home landscapes. Thickets of its irregular trunks can be found along Salado Creek and other local creekways.
By the end of summer, infestations of leaf rollers and fall webworms can almost completely defoliate the tree; the webs of shimmering skeletal leaf remains create a smoke-like effect that is instantly recognizable. In autumn, the same insects (along with plentiful seed production) makes box elder an extremely valuable resource for wildlife and many migrating birds, from cuckoos to orioles.
For landscape specimens, careful pruning would be recommended to maintain structural integrity; the wood can break in strong winds or icy conditions.
A peculiar wild native maple native to riparian bottomlands, occasionally found in backyards. Short lived.
