Boxelder

== AKA- ==
Ashleaf Maple
== Description ==
A unique maple tree with big compound leaves, and smooth bark. Trees are quite beautiful, however with their weak wood and short life expectancy, these trees don't make a good public area or street tree. You may want to avoid this tree from roads, houses and power lines. 
This tree is usually one of the first trees to bud in the spring. Buds open in late March, with leaves and flowers in early to mid April. Samaras appear in summer, and mature in the fall. 
Twigs are green and smooth for several years, but turn brownish after several years. They are usually multi-trunked. They can grow to 60' tall. 
A unique factor with this tree is its death is very predictable. When these trees start to get branch dieback, its a good sign of distress. Usually at around that time, the tree (who surely wants to live on...) will start producing stem shoots that will grow quite fast. These trees will quickly grow faster than the parent tree. When the actual tree dies and or falls in a storm, these trees who have somewhat stronger wood, will be the new tree. As those trees get older the wood weakens and the cycle will start again until the roots die. The roots usually live longer than the tree itself, but both will usually die within 100 years. These are fast growing trees, maturing in 4-8 years. They are capable of growing 15-24" per year, but every tree is different, depending on its environment. 
It does will in Full Sun to Partial Sun. It is a native species to Connecticut.
Height- 40-60' equal or less spread. 
Strength- Weak
Bark is gray, sometimes brown, twigs are green their first 2-4 years. 
Leaves They have compound leaves; which is unique for a maple, Usually with 3-7 leaflets. 
Flowers in spring- Late March or Early April. 
Fruit- in the summer, falling in late Autumn or in Winter. Most seeds don't germinate. (Assuming about 10-15% do, in early spring. They are small samaras.
Invasive Likeliness- This plant doesn't typically have any invasive traits. However, it may takeover minimally controlled areas. Likeliness is LOW. It is not entered as an Invasive in CT.
Category:Trees and Shrubs
Category:Nature
Category:Native Plants