Acer negundo
Box elder, Ash-leafed maple, Water ash, Manitoba maple
- Height × spread
- 13m × 9m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Flowers
- Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is a fast growing, bushy headed tree which often grows as a multi-stemmed specimen with bright green young shoots. The leaves look a bit like those of an ash: pinnate, slightly pendulous and they turn a clear-yellow in autumn. The showier cultivars are more ornamental and thus perhaps more suited to garden use. The fruits of this tree, popularly called spinning jennies because of their acrobatics whilst falling, are long-lasting and retained after the leaves have fallen. In former times, the tree was used as a source of maple syrup. It is useful because of its tolerance of poor soils and both wet and dry habitats.
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Autumn foliage
- Yellow-clear
- Fruit colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Round
- Height
- 13m
- Spread
- 9m
- Height in 10 years
- 5m
- Spread in 10 years
- 4m
- Season of interest
- Autumn
- Flowers in
- Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Prairie garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam (normal), Poor soil, Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Damp and wet soil, Well drained soil, Drought resistant
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Structural, Bee attraction
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed young plants with slow release fertiliser
Spread a slow release fertiliser around the base of the plant to the edge of the foliage spread, so that it can feed the roots. It is helpful for this to be applied for several years.
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost until the plant becomes well established.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water until well established
Until well established, plants in the ground should be watered deeply at regular intervals after a dry period. This is likely to be 1 and 2 weeks without rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Winter
Winter · Planting
Prune to maintain the plant
Pruning is done in winter when the plant is dormant as otherwise it can 'bleed' badly when cut. Keep the plant looking attractive and healthy by removing dead branches, removing branches that cross or rub each other, and those which spoil its appearance.
The plant is encouraged to develop a pleasing shape by removing deviant or dead growth. It is much more likely to remain healthy if branches that rub, or can rub each other are removed since rubbed spots can be places where disease is introduced.
Planting & general
Outdoor planting · Planting
Add root growth stimulant to the planting hole
Mycorrhizal fungi helps roots establish quickly, so they absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. It comes as a powder, granule or gel. Add to the planting hole or container, and to the plant's rootball before planting in the hole. For "bareroot" plants use a gel.
Planting
Protect & support young trees
Attach a newly planted tree or tall shrub over 1m to a tree stake to give support and prevent windrock. Use a tree guard to stop tree bark being eaten by animals, especially in areas with deer - removing bark injures a tree and in worst case can kill it.
Found in
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