Boxelder trees are an easy-to-grow, very adaptable maple. The wood of boxelder maple trees is soft and has no commercial value. Boxelder maple tree facts tell us that this maple usually grows on riverbanks or near water in the wild. Some boxelder maple trees are male, and some are female. The females bear blossoms that turn bright green when they are pollinated. These trees have brittle, weak wood. That means that the trees break easily in wind and ice storms. In addition, boxelder maple tree information confirms that the tree seeds, found in winged samaras, germinate very easily in wet soils. Finally, female trees attract boxelder bugs. These are insects some ½ inch long that don’t cause many problems in the garden. However, boxelder bugs are problematic as winter comes on. They like to overwinter indoors, and you’ll likely find them inside your house.
So why grow boxelders? If you are having trouble getting a tree growing, you will not with a boxelder. Now, there are several attractive cultivars of boxelder including “Aureo-Variegata”, “Flamingo” and “Auratum”. The cultivar “Aureo-Variegata” is noted for its leaves bordered in gold. “Flamingo’ has variegated leaves with pink margins and is somewhat available at local nurseries. “Auratum” has abundant gold leaves but is a little harder to find. Also, there are male varieties like the male “cottonless” cottonwoods that do not attract boxelder bugs.
