What soil does Box elder grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, calcareous, acidic.

Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Box elder be planted?

Plant it at least 4 m from buildings. Keep it at least 2.5 m from paving.

When does Box elder flower?

Flowering: March–April, green, yellow.

How much water does Box elder need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Box elder cost?

It sells for roughly €32 to €120 in local shops, depending on size.

What should I plant instead of Box elder?

We do not recommend it because it is on the EU or the Hungarian list of invasive species. For a similar purpose we recommend: Bald cypress, Freeman maple, London plane, Pin oak.

Box elder

Acer negundo

Box elder (Acer negundo) is a large tree. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Sold in local shops from about €32. We do not recommend it because it is on the EU or the Hungarian list of invasive species.

Illustration of Box elder — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A very fast-growing, undemanding maple from North America with compound, ash-like leaves. Nurseries mostly sell its variegated forms (such as 'Flamingo', which opens pink) because they are cheap, grow quickly and survive almost anywhere. It is an invasive species: female trees shed huge amounts of seed, and the seedlings crowd out native trees in floodplains and riverside woods, so planting it is not advised and another ornamental tree is a better choice.

We do not recommend this plant

We do not recommend it because it is on the EU or the Hungarian list of invasive species. Further down we show what to plant instead.

Watch out for

Invasive. Female trees shed winged seeds from September to March, the wind carries them far, and a felled or damaged tree resprouts from the stump. In Central Europe it mainly takes over river floodplains and softwood riverside forests, where it crowds out willows, poplars and other native trees; seedlings also settle in cracks of walls and paving. In Hungary the government decree on the protection of woody plants lists it as an invasive species: it may not be planted, or used as a replacement tree, in public spaces and other areas in public use. The annex's exception for horticultural cultivars is marked in the current text only for tree of heaven and green ash, not for box elder, so the variegated cultivars are not exempt either. Conservation authorities advise against planting it in gardens as well. Other problems: the wood is soft and brittle, branches break in wind and snow, and the tree is short-lived; the pale leaf margins of variegated cultivars scorch in hot, dry spots. The tree is a favourite host of the fall webworm; in its North American homeland box elder bugs (Boisea trivittata) build up on female trees and move into houses in autumn. Pollen from male trees is strongly allergenic.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 6 m × 4.5 m
Hardiness: down to -40 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D March–April, green, yellow

Group	Large tree
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	6 m × 4.5 m
Ultimate size	5–20 m × 4–15 m
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	March–April, green, yellow
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Medium
Suckering	yes
Spreading	High
Distance from buildings	at least 4 m
Distance from paving	at least 2.5 m
Litter	Fruit
Planting distance	600 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	from about €32

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

What to plant instead

Recommended plants that do the same job, with similar characteristics.

Bald cypress

Taxodium distichum 5 m × 2.5 m after 10 years

A deciduous conifer: its soft, light green, feathery foliage turns russet or coppery brown in autumn and then falls together with the short side…

Large tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about €27

Freeman maple

Acer × freemanii 8 m × 5 m after 10 years

A hybrid of red and silver maple: it grows as fast as silver maple but with stronger branching, and it reliably turns orange-red to scarlet in autumn.…

Large tree

Full sun

Part shade

London plane

Platanus × acerifolia 8 m × 6 m after 10 years

A huge, long-lived shade tree with patchy peeling bark in cream and olive green that takes heat, city air and hard pruning in its stride. It suits…

Large tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about €3.50

Pin oak

Quercus palustris 7 m × 4 m after 10 years

A fast-growing oak with a regular conical crown and glossy, deeply cut leaves that turn bright red in autumn. It tolerates wet and occasionally…

Large tree

Full sun

Part shade

from about €48

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
175-200 cm	approx. €120
size not stated	approx. €32

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

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