Ash-leaf maple (Acer negundo, Sp. Pl.: 1056 (1753))

Family: Sapindaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 1056 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Acer

Vegetable: False

Observations: Canada to Honduras

Description

The Ash-leaf maple, known scientifically as Acer negundo, is a fascinating deciduous tree that belongs to the Sapindaceae family. First described by Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work “Species Plantarum” in 1753, this tree has a rich and diverse habitation range extending from Canada all the way to Honduras.

One of the most distinguishing features of the Ash-leaf maple is its unique leaves, which differ markedly from the more familiar palm-shaped leaves of other maple species. Instead, the Ash-leaf maple has compound leaves composed of 3-9 leaflets that resemble those of an ash tree, hence its common name. This unusual leaf structure not only contributes to its identification but also provides a striking visual texture in various landscapes.

Acer negundo is particularly noted for its adaptability. It thrives in a wide array of environments, ranging from moist, well-drained soils to the harsher conditions found in floodplains and urban areas. This resilience makes it a popular choice for reforestation projects and urban planting, where its rapid growth and tolerance of pollution can be beneficial.

This tree is typically medium-sized, reaching heights between 10 to 25 meters, with a broad and rounded crown. The bark of young Ash-leaf maples is smooth and greenish-brown, becoming grey and furrowed with age. This textural change in the bark can add an element of visual interest throughout the seasons.

Flowering occurs in early spring, with male and female flowers often found on separate trees. The flowers themselves are not particularly showy, being small and greenish-yellow, but they play a crucial role in the tree’s reproduction. Following pollination, the tree produces winged seeds called samaras, which are dispersed by the wind—an effective strategy for colonizing new areas.

The Ash-leaf maple’s adaptability, rapid growth, and distinctive foliage make it a noteworthy species within its genus. Its ability to thrive in varying conditions underscores its ecological value across a vast geographical range. This intriguing tree continues to captivate botanists and nature enthusiasts alike, with its rich history and vital role in diverse ecosystems from the northern forests of Canada to the tropical landscapes of Honduras.

Common Names

Ita: acero americano
Ron: artar american
Eng: ash-leaf maple, ashleaf maple, box elder, box-elder, box-elder, ash-leaved maple, boxelder, boxelder maple, california boxelder, manitoba maple, three-leaf maple, western boxelder, ash-leaved maple, box-elder, ash-leaved maple, box-elder maple, three-leaved maple, western box-elder
Dan: askebladet løn
Fra: erable negundo, erable à feuille de frêne, négondo, érable negundo, érable à giguère, aulne-buis, plaine à giguère, érable argilière, érable négondo, érable négundo, érable à feuilles composées, érable à feuilles de frêne
Deu: eschen-ahorn, eschenahorn
Afr: kaliforniese esdoring, essenblaarahorn
Pol: klon jesionolistny
Lav: oslapu klava
Ell: sfentani, sfontamni
Lit: uosialapis klevas
Nld: vederesdoorn
Por: acer-negundo, bordo-negundo, negundo, ácer, ácer-negundo
Swe: asklönn
Ces: javor jasanolistý, javor jaseňolistý
Est: saarvaher
Hun: zöld juhar
Cym: masarnen dail ynn
En: Ash-leaf maple, Box-elder, Three-leaf maple, Box Elder, Boxelder, Boxelder maple, California boxelder, Manitoba Maple, Me’êškema, Ash-leaved maple, Ashleaf maple, Western boxelder, Box-elder, Ash-leaved maple, Ash-leaved maple, box-elder, Box-elder maple, Three-leaved maple, Western box-elder
Af: Kaliforniese esdoring, Essenblaarahorn, Veer-ahorn
Ar: قيقب مانيتوبا
Hy: Թխկի արծաթափայլ
Az: Qarışıq meşələrin torpaqları
Eu: Lizar-astigar
Be: Клён амерыканскі
Bg: Ясенолистен явор
Ca: Negundo, Auró americà
Zh: Fu ye feng, 梣叶槭
Cs: Javor jasanolistý, Javor jaseňolistý
Da: Askebladet Løn
Nl: Vederesdoorn, Californische Esdoorn
Eo: Manitoba acero
Et: Saarvaher
Fi: Saarnivaahtera
Fr: Négondo, “Érable negundo, Érable frêne, Érable Négondo”, Erable negundo, Érable negundo, Erable à feuille de frêne, Érable à Giguère, Aulne-buis, Plaine à Giguère, Érable argilière, Érable négondo, Érable négundo, Érable à feuilles composées, Érable à feuilles de Frêne, Negundo, Érable américain
De: Eschenahorn, Eschen-Ahorn, Eschenblättriger Ahorn
El: Sfentani, Sfontamni
He: אדר מילני
Hu: Kőrislevelű juhar, Zöld juhar
Is: Askhlynur
Ga: Trom bosca
It: Acero americano, Acero a foglie di frassino, Acero di Virginia, Negundo
Ja: Tonerikoba-no-kaede
Ko: Negundodanpung, 네군도단풍
Lv: Ošlapu kļava, Oslapu klava
Lt: Uosialapis klevas
No: Asklønn
Fa: افرای برگ‌خاکستر
Pl: Klon jesionolistny
Pt: Acer-negundo, Bordo-negundo, Negundo, Ácer, Ácer-negundo
Ro: Arțar american, Artar american
Ru: Klen âsenelistnyj, Клён ясенелистный
Sr: Пајавац
Es: Arce negundo, Arce de hoja de fresno, Bordo, Negundo
Sv: Asklönn
Zh-tw: 梣叶槭
Tt: Тилгән өрәңгесе
Tr: Dişbudak yapraklı akçaağaç
Uk: Американський клен
Cy: Masarnen dail ynn

Synonyms

• Negundo fraxinifolium (Nutt. ex DC.)
• Negundo negundo ((L.) H.Karst.)
• Negundo aceroides (Moench)
• Acer negundo subsp. typicum (Wesm.)
• Rulac negundo ((L.) Hitchc.)
• Acer negundo var. vulgare (Pax)
• Acer negundo var. normalis (Kuntze)

Distribution

• Alabama (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Arkansas (native)
• California (native)
• Colorado (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Guatemala (native)
• Honduras (native)
• Idaho (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Iowa (native)
• Kansas (native)
• Kentucky (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Maine (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Mexico Central (native)
• Mexico Gulf (native)
• Mexico Northeast (native)
• Mexico Northwest (native)
• Mexico Southeast (native)
• Mexico Southwest (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Minnesota (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• Missouri (native)
• Montana (native)
• Nebraska (native)
• Nevada (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• New York (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• North Dakota (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Oklahoma (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Rhode I. (native)
• Saskatchewan (native)
• South Dakota (native)
• Tennessee (native)
• Texas (native)
• Utah (native)
• Vermont (native)
• Virginia (native)
• Washington (native)
• Wyoming (native)
• Albania (introduced)
• Algeria (introduced)
• Altay (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Belarus (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• Buryatiya (introduced)
• Central European Rus (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• East European Russia (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Greece (introduced)
• Hungary (introduced)
• Iraq (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Kazakhstan (introduced)
• Khabarovsk (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Morocco (introduced)
• New Zealand South (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• Sakhalin (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Tadzhikistan (introduced)
• Turkey (introduced)
• Turkey-in-Europe (introduced)
• Turkmenistan (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)
• Uzbekistan (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• West Siberia (introduced)
• Yukon (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Mar 27, 2019 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 9, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 9, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 9, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 9, 2018 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Oct 7, 2022 by Trap Hers (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 12, 2019 by zent (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 24, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 8, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 2, 2019 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Oct 8, 2022 by Andrzej Konstantynowicz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 24, 2019 by alicia (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 19, 2019 by ronald dos santos (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 19, 2021 by Decobert Didier (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 6, 2017 by Diego Naranjo (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Nov 26, 2021 by Jörg D (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 27, 2021 by JaLS (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 23, 2019 by serge pageau (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 3, 2019 by Sylvianne Mestre (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 14, 2022 by Willem Defieuw (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Mar 19, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 2, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Pierre Bonnet (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 2, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Pierre Bonnet (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 2, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Pierre Bonnet (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 6, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Pierre Bonnet (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Mar 20, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 1, 2022 by aparicio Floren (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 2, 2019 by Sabina Hartmann (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 27, 2019 by Jiří Vilím (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 2, 2022 by Georg Jurceka (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3189866)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:781412-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Acer negundo L.)

Specifications

Growth form: Multiple Stem

Growth habit: Tree

Growth rate: Rapid

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.8

Ph minimum: 5.0

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 7

Soil nutriments: 7