Plant Spotlight: Box Elder Maple

Sensation box elder maples (Acer negundo 'Sensation') are deciduous trees native to North America, commonly found in riparian zones and along riverbanks. They grow smaller than its non-cultivar parent at 35' tall by 25' wide and have a relatively fast growth rate. The leaves are compound, resembling those of poison ivy, and can be green or yellow in the fall. Box elder trees are dioecious, meaning they have separate male and female trees, with female trees producing clusters of winged seeds known as samaras. They are often used for shade and as landscaping trees. They are well adapted to our Colorado environment. They are easy to grow and hardy from zones 3-10. They also don't need a lot of water and can be used in xeriscape designs. Sensation box elders prefer full sun to part shade. They produce beautiful fall foliage. It can produce suckers, so it is important to occasionally remove those to prevent spread. It is also worth noting that box elders tend to have soft wood but that is usually insignificant. In our area box elder maples tend to start changing colors around early October. In all, sensation box elder maples are a great tree for small or large low water landscapes that need a reliable tree that produces a pop of fall color.

Sensation Box Elder Maple (Acer negundo 'Sensation') in fall produces a beautiful orange/yellow color combo.