• Photo of Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning' (Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning's)

Plant Profile: Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning'

Names

Winter Lightning Boxelder Maple, Winter Lightning Maple, Yellow-twigged Box Elder

  • Photo of Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning' (Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning's)

Phonetic Spelling:AY-ser neg-UN-doh

Genus:Acer

Species:negundo

Family:Sapindaceae

The Yellow-twigged Box Elder is a deciduous tree or large shrub belonging to the maple family, distinguished by its striking yellow branches. This feature makes it particularly appealing during the fall and winter months when the tree sheds its leaves. It thrives best in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil. For optimal effect, consider planting it in clusters to create a hedgerow or screen, or utilize it as a shade tree in smaller areas.

In terms of pests and diseases, this plant may occasionally face challenges from aphids and horse chestnut scale. Additionally, it can be susceptible to powdery mildew and verticillium wilt at times.

For further details on Acer negundo, please refer to additional resources.

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning' Feature Summary

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning' Image Gallery

Tags

#deciduous
#small tree
#wildlife plant
#winter interest
#fall interest
#hedges
#fast growing
#large shrub
#pollinator plant
#yellow stems
#deciduous tree
#nectar plant spring
#fall color yellow
#humidity tolerant
#bee friendly

Similar Plants

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning' Feature Summary

Attributes
Flowers are pollinated by bees.
Flowers
Small creamy yellow-green flowers in the spring
Gold/Yellow
Green
Cream/Tan
Leaves
Light green pinnately compound leaves (3-9 leaflets). Bright yellow fall color
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Stem
Showy yellow stems make attractive backdrop in a winter landscape.
Gold/Yellow
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
Clay
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Fruit
Landscape
Pollinator Garden
Winter Garden
Fairy Garden
Hedge
Screen/Privacy
Small groups
Small Tree

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning' Attributes

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Wildlife Value

Flowers are pollinated by bees.

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning' Flowers

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Flower Description

Small creamy yellow-green flowers in the spring

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Flower Color

filter_vintage
Cream/Tan
filter_vintage
Gold/Yellow
filter_vintage
Green

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning' Leaves

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Leaf Description

Light green pinnately compound leaves (3-9 leaflets). Bright yellow fall color

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Leaf Color

spa
Green

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Deciduous Leaf Fall Color

spa
Gold/Yellow

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning' Stem

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Stem Description

Showy yellow stems make attractive backdrop in a winter landscape.

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Stem Color

grass
Gold/Yellow

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning' Whole Plant Traits

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning' Cultural Conditions

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
3a
thermostat
3b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning' Fruit

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning' Landscape

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning': Attracts

Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees