How the box elder is grown

How the box elder is grown

The box elder, boxelder maple, Manitoba maple or ash-leaved maple, (Acer negundo L., 1753) is a tree native to the eastern area of North America which was introduced in Europe in 1688 and is typical of the gardens and avenues of northern and central Italy . This species is wild along streams and rivers.
The reproductive structures of this dioecious plant are male inflorescences which are formed by erect, greenish-yellow corymbs with pinkish hues and female inflorescences formed by longer and pendulous greenish-yellow catkins. The plant flowers in April-May. The fruits are represented by double samaras with elongated wings.

Cultivation –
To be cultivated, the Acer negundo needs very sunny or partially shaded places; it is a plant that does not fear the cold and tolerates intense frosts without problems but also the hottest and most torrid summer. However, in the first phase of their life it is advisable to protect the roots of the recently planted young plants, mulching the soil with foliage or straw.
Except in the first years of life, in which emergency irrigation is necessary in the hottest summer periods, the plant is then satisfied with the rains. When planting and in spring it is advisable to apply well-ripened organic fertilizer (but not too much) to the ground around the tree, burying it with a hoe.
From a pedological point of view, the Acer negundo is a plant that adapts to various types of soil even if it prefers soft and moderately drained soils, not particularly rich in organic matter. In general, it likes medium-textured soils with good aeration.
The multiplication can be done by taking semi-woody cuttings, from the tips of the branches that have not flowered; like many other maples it tends to reseed itself, therefore it is easy to find many young specimens at the base of the tree, which would be better to contain.

Uses –
The Acer negundo is a plant widely used as an ornamental also due to its rapid growth. Like saccharine, a sugary substance is obtained from the sap, called maple syrup and used on pancakes.
The pale, light, brittle wood does not find much use in carpentry, but it can be used to make wood fiber products. It is a plant visited by bees for pollen and nectar.