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Gerald L. Klingaman
Aceraceae
Acer negundo 'Auratum'
Ash-Leaved Maple, Boxelder
Box elder is a short-lived deciduous tree native to many regions in North America. Although sometimes scorned as an ornamental plant because of its weak wood and its penchant for self-sowing, it has given rise to many attractive cultivars. Introduced in the late nineteenth century, 'Auratum' has three-parted, lemon-yellow leaves with contrasting red stems. The leaves hold their color through summer. Fall color is usually unremarkable. A female selection, it produces inconspicuous greenish yellow flowers in spring which give rise to clusters of winged reddish-brown fruit in summer. Typically low-branched, this small tree has green twigs and furrowed light gray to gray-brown bark.
Box elders are tolerant of a wide range of soils, fertile or poor, wet or dry. This cultivar may be planted as a specimen tree in a lawn or park-like setting.
8 - 3
4 - 8
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Tree
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
25'-40' / 7.6m - 12.2m
20'-30' / 6.1m - 9.1m
Early Spring, Spring
North America
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Average
Clay, Loam, Sand
Medium
Average Water
Oval/Rounded
Spring, Summer, Fall
Insignificant
Yellow Green
Green, Brown
Light Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Yellow Green
Light Green
Light Yellow, Yellow Green, Brown
Gray
No
Yes
Matte
Fissured
Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Sometimes
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