Tree Talk: Boxelder

Learn all about Boxelder (Acer negundo), a wonderful tree that is found along streams throughout the mid-Atlantic!

Recorded and edited by Allyson Wells

[numinut]

I'm a Trout Unlimited member in Wisconsin. It's not their fault, but because other native riparian tree species have been over harvested and over utilized for many years in this area, Box Elders, despite the benefits some commenters have mentioned, over crowd our trout steam banks, drop too much tree debris into streams and lakes, and cut off too much light needed for native stream vegetation. Our stream restoration efforts here include thinning out the Box Elders and planting other native trees like Hackberries and Oaks. Hopefully this returns the stream banks to a more balanced ecosystem closer to what the given stream was like before it was altered by all the exploitation of streamside resources, with the ultimate goal of healthy wild trout in a healthy stream or lake

[terranceeisner]

1:45 How bought immortality, you can cut them down and cut them down and cut them down and you can do it till the world stops spinning and you don't have to plant them ever, if you have one in your yard you have an infinite amount because they just don't die.

[lukebieniek]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ painfully short but thoroughly explicit. Thank you sir for giving this unique species the dignity it deserves. My property is rife with these. I believe the short life scenario is a bit-O-an exaggeration. I have two very old ones third younger brother and a host of sevenor eight quite large Younghans. The three brothers were here in 2001 and were quite old and large at the time. While they routinely lose and shed a lot of branches they continue to hang on and thrive. If there is an appropriate link, I'd be glad to send pictures.

[wolfy]

The wood often has red staining that's prized by wood turners. Can also be tapped for syrup like other maples. I quite like these trees myself. Every tree has its own character, and they can be picturesque

[craighighfield]

Box elder is a maple (Acer) but has unique traits not typically found on most other maples like compound leaves, green twigs and leaf scars that connect on twigs.

[bullettube]

Any tree whose Latin name starts with "acer" is in the maple family. Box Elders are one of those trees that must never be allowed anywhere near a house, and never ever on a village street! Over 20 years ago I told my sister and brother-in-law to get rid of the Box Elders in their yard. They didn't and when these weak, short lived trees gave way in storms they caused damage to their garage, and last year, the last one left came down and pulled down electric and phone lines for the whole street! Their neighbor on the other hand planted a White Oak. It's now a magnificent looking tree that laughs at ice storms and high winds. Now my sister wishes they had cut down the stupid Elders and planted a oak instead when their neighbor did. White Oaks do not take a hundred years to mature, in fact they can grow quickly when planted by themselves with out competition, and achieve 50ft or more in 15-20 years. Yes they produce leaves and acorns, but they are gorgeous!

[lrn_news]

Idk why people consider Box elder undesirable, I think they're a beautiful tree.

[f.demascio]

I identified my first box elder after thinking it was a massively leafed poison ivy vine. The source tree had been so heavily trimmed for so long, it no longer resembled a tree. Here in Virginia, they like to plant tall growing species under power lines so a power company (not an arborist) can make money destroying the trees when they hack them to pieces, splitting the crown until the tree is a Y shape (at best), more often a lopsided mess that hangs over the street, waiting for a heavy wind storm.

[sallymay]

👁💚🌲. Trees are nessary for life to exist on this 🌎. 🌲🌳 are so beautiful iv seen 🌴 that must have been 200- 350yrs old they give off an aura of majestic knowledge a knowing of wisdom the life secrets of the nature. The roots of🌲🌳hold 🌎 together.

[lrn_news]

Why do they always say that Box elder has an unattractive crown or is generally undesirable looking?? Every time I see a box elder or look up pictures of them they're a very beautiful tree. I don't understand why they always say this.

[AdaptiveApeHybrid]

Such a cool, scraggly, shady tree. They're so prolific where I am. I love how fast they coppice. Not sure if you can use that word as a verb but they do it so quickly. You cut one and in two years the growth from the stump will be taller than you!

[TheJesse]

They run rampant in my town in northern Maine...t

[northstarhealthmentorshipllc]

What is the species of mushroom growing on the rotting boxelder tree? I have some on my own boxelder stump 💞

[ryelor]

Another video to remind me that I should get a girlfriend. Also, you don't have to be that nervous in your video. I think the wood the tree makes is pretty nice and I should buy one of those Harbor Freight sawmills to make boards at my Dad's farm that's full of those trees. The syrup from the sap is nice but its not often made since its less concentrated than even basic maples like Silver Maple. The wood has a nice red coloring inside. The sad parts about the tree is that it often grows crooked, never gets very big, and likes to grow at an extreme lean often due to the wet soil it grows in. Its actually a great tree to learn how to use a chainsaw with since its abundant and you can make mistakes and learn the characteristics of trees without getting a trip to the hospital or morgue or if you make mistakes. My first tree was, and still is, a boxelder with multiple trunks. I like that tree. That reminds me that I should get some fertilizer for it.

Its a wonderful basic tree. The vanilla of trees. It makes syrup and boards and can teach you how to cut down bigger trees without taking your life in the process.

[wyattallmaras]

Excellent video, very well done. Thank you for your information.

[AlexClark-ssku]

Im really curious about why Boxelder's have thin bark, is there a benifit to thinner bark?

[hanzifaction]

These trees live forever. They constantly fall over and are able to reroot and survive. They are okay in ravines, where they are allowed to break and fall over without damaging property.

[shastanik]

I've had one of these growing in my back yard for at least 20 years. It was a volunteer (my neighbour has one that produces seeds.) I kept cutting it back to the ground for the first several years, but then was too busy to stay on top of it. It now towers over my deck and garage. It's soo messy. Last to leaf out, first to drop. Has now gotten so big it's lifting my deck, as it was growing at an angle from underneath. But the bees love it, as do the birds as it has convenient branches for hanging suet/seed cages. Needs a severe cut-back as my south facing deck is now mostly in shade in the summer.

[lennyweryat]

Love my Boxelder, would love to Cut a Start from my boxelder and grow more of them with the same genetics.
Can I start a tree from a cutting and if so how?

[keving]

I'm trying to plant some of these on my property. I have a bunch of seeds gathered up. Do they need cold stratification? I'm getting conflicting information.