Box Elder Trees

[mchughes]

Hi! I am new to all of this, but I do have a question! We have many of what my mother called "Box Elders". Is anyone familiar with this tree and know anything about it? They grow everywhere but I know very little about it other than this and that you don't have to water it.
Mary

[Tony M]

mchughes-
This is taken from "native trees of texas"
Tony M

Box Elder, Box Elder Maple, Ashleaf Maple, Red River Maple
Acer negundo
Aceraceae

Box elder differs from all other maple species in having compound leaves with three, five, seven or sometimes nine leaflets. The young trees and twigs on older trees are a bright olive-green. Box elders are widely distributed from the Eastern seaboard onto the Great Plains. In Texas the tree occurs from the eastern borders of the state to west of Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio in floodplain swamps and along waterways. Box elder is intolerant of drought and should not be planted in the southern Great Plains. It is also susceptible to heart rot and many insects, expecially box-elder bugs.

Plant Habit or Use: medium tree

Exposure: sun partial sun

Flower Color: greenish, inconspicuous

Blooming Period: spring

Fruit Characteristics: two-winged samaras

Height: to 45 ft.

Width: to 40 ft.

Plant Character: deciduous

Heat Tolerance: high

Water Requirements: medium low

Soil Requirements: adaptable

USDA Hardiness Zone: 2