Ripening takes place from August to October and seeds are wind distributed continuously until spring. Seedling Development Boxelder is capable of establishing itself on a variety of seedbeds. On these sites, overstory density is apparently not a factor in early germination and survival, but seedlings begin to die off after 1 or 2 years unless openings are provided. Germination is epigeal. The species is short-lived, attaining an average age of 60 years but rarely 100 years.
Poor sites bring a corresponding reduction in growth.
Boxelder typically forms a short, tapering bole and bushy, spreading crown. Because boxelder usually appears in mixed stands and has limited commercial value, no information is available about its potential yield. Habit Boxelder usually develops a shallow, fibrous root system. In the area of its best development, the lower Ohio and Mississippi River valleys, boxelder usually follows the pioneer species of cottonwood and willow in colonizing new ground in alluvial bottoms. The chief rot-causing fungi attacking boxelder are Fomitopsis fraxinus, Perrenniporia fraxinophilus, Fomes geotropus, Fomitopsis scutellata, Inonotus glomeratus, and Ustulina vulgaris.