Box-elder

Acer negundo

Keystone

Native to Florida. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 88%

Height: About 60 feet
Spread: 30–50 feet
Light: Full sun
Soil moisture: Moderate

Space about 30 ft apart from its recorded spread. Enter your bed size for a count

Will it fit your yard?

Acer negundo — foliage photograph — Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Original photograph

At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Leaves: Deciduous
Bloom: Early spring
Fruiting season: Summer to fall

Recorded in 27 Florida counties.

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Florida. Shared habitat, not food. 100 animals.

Acadian Flycatcher
Empidonax virescens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Black Duck
Anas rubripes
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Coot
Fulica americana
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Birds. 1 shared habitat
American Pipit
Anthus rubescens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Anhinga
Anhinga anhinga
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Belted Kingfisher
Megaceryle alcyon
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black-and-White Warbler
Mniotilta varia
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna autumnalis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black-crowned Night-heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Black-throated Green Warbler
Dendroica virens
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Blue Grosbeak
Passerina caerulea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Polioptila caerulea
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Blue-headed Vireo
Vireo solitarius
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Boat-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus major
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Brown Creeper
Certhia americana
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Carolina Chickadee
Poecile carolinensis
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
Birds. 1 shared habitat
Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula
Birds. 1 shared habitat

All wildlife of Florida

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

180CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including FL

Genus host records with ranges including FL · Acer

Antheraea polyphemusPolyphemus Moth
Automeris ioIo Moth
Eacles imperialisImperial Moth
Hyalophora cecropiaCecropia Moth
Acharia stimuleaSaddleback Caterpillar Moth
Achatia distinctaDistinct Quaker
Acleris chalybeanaLesser Maple Leafroller Moth
Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
Acronicta funeralisFunerary Dagger, Paddle Caterpillar
Acronicta impletaYellow-Haired Dagger

Show all 180

Acronicta oblinitaSmeared Dagger
Acronicta retardataBantam Maple Dagger, Retarded Dagger
Actias lunaLuna Moth
Adoxophyes negundanaShimmering Adoxophyes Moth
Alsophila pometariaFall Cankerworm Moth
Amorbia humerosanaWhite-Lined Leafroller Moth
Amphipyra pyramidoidesMiranda Underwing, Copper Underwing, Copper Amphipyra
Anavitrinella pampinariaCommon Gray, Cranberry Spanworm
Ancylis platananaSycamore Leafroller
Antaeotricha leucillanaWell-Marked Leaf Tier, Pale Gray Bird-Dropping Moth
Antepione thisoariaVariable Antepione
Apatelodes torrefactaSpotted Apatelodes
Archips argyrospilaFruit-Tree Leafroller Moth
Archips negundanaLarger Boxelder Leafroller Moth
Archips semiferanusOak Leafroller Moth
Argyresthia subreticulataSpeckled Argyresthia Moth
Argyrotaenia marianaGray-Banded Leafroller Moth
Argyrotaenia quercifolianaYellow-Winged Oak Leafroller Moth, Lined Oak Leafroller
Argyrotaenia velutinanaRed-Banded Leafroller Moth, Jack Pine Tube Moth
Baileya ophthalmicaEyed Baileya
Besma quercivorariaOak Besma
Callosamia prometheaPromethea Silkmoth, Promethea Moth
Caloptilia bimaculatellaMaple Caloptilia
Catocala micronymphaLittle Nymph
Cecrita biundataWavy-Lined Heterocampa
Cecrita guttivittaMaple Prominent, Saddled Prominent
Cenopis diluticostanaSpring Dead-Leaf Roller Moth, Oak Cenopis
Cenopis niveanaAproned Cenopis Moth
Cenopis pettitanaMaple-Basswood Leafroller Moth
Cenopis reticulatanaReticulated Fruitworm Moth
Chaetaglaea sericeaSilky Sallow
Charadra deridensThe Laugher
Choristoneura conflictanaLarge Aspen Tortrix
Choristoneura rosaceanaOblique-Banded Leafroller Moth, Rosaceous Leaf Roller
Clostera inclusaAngle-Lined Prominent, Poplar Tent Maker, Poplar Leaf-Tier
Coelodasys unicornisUnicorn Caterpillar Moth
Colocasia flavicornisYellowhorn, Saddled Yellowhorn
Dasychira tephraTephra Tussock Moth
Datana ministraYellow-Necked Caterpillar Moth
Dichomeris ligulellaPalmerworm
Dryocampa rubicundaRosy Maple Moth, Green-Striped Mapleworm, Rosy Dryocampa
Ectropis crepusculariaThe Small Engrailed, Saddleback Looper
Elaphria chalcedoniaChalcedony Midget
Elaphria exesaExesa Midget
Elaphria festivoidesSouthern Festive Midget
Elaphria versicolorVariegated Midget
Ennomos magnariaMaple Spanworm Moth, Notchwing Geometer
Ennomos subsignariaElm Spanworm Moth
Episimus tyriusMaple Tip Borer
Erannis tiliariaLinden Looper Moth, Western Winter Moth, Lime Looper
Eubaphe mendicaThe Beggar
Euchlaena amoenariaDeep Yellow Euchlaena
Euchlaena serrataThe Saw-Wing
Eucirroedia pampinaScalloped Sallow
Euclea delphiniiSpiny Oak-Slug Moth
Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
Eutrapela clematariaCurved-Tooth Geometer, Purplish Brown Looper
Euxoa auxiliarisArmy Cut-Worm, Army Cutworm
Gesta juvenalisJuvenal's Duskywing
Glena cognatariaBlueberry Gray
Glena cribratariaDotted Gray
Halysidota tessellarisBanded Tussock Moth, Pale Tiger Moth
Haploa leconteiLeconte's Haploa
Herpetogramma pertextalisBold-Feathered Grass Moth
Herpetogramma thestealisZigzag Herpetogramma, Subtle-Feathered Grass Moth
Heterocampa pulvereaWhite-Blotched Heterocampa
Heterophleps triguttariaThree-Spotted Fillip
Hypagyrtis unipunctataOne-Spotted Variant
Hypena baltimoralisBaltimore Bomolocha, Baltimore Snout
Hypena scabraGreen Cloverworm Bomolocha, Black Snout
Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
Iridopsis defectariaBrown-Shaded Gray, Willow Looper
Iridopsis ephyrariaPale-Winged Gray
Iridopsis humariaSmall Purplish Gray
Isa textulaCrowned Slug
Kocakina fidelisIntractable Quaker, Green Fruitworm, Fourlined Green Fruitworm
Laetilia coccidivoraScale-Feeding Snout
Lambdina fervidariaCurve-Lined Looper Moth
Lambdina pellucidariaYellow-Headed Looper, Eastern Pine Looper
Lithacodes fasciolaYellow-Shouldered Slug
Lithophane antennataAshen Pinion
Lithophane bethuneiBethune's Pinion
Lithophane patefactaDiomorphic Pinion, Branded Pinion
Lochmaeus manteoVariable Oakleaf Caterpillar Moth
Lomographa vestaliataWhite Spring Moth
Lytrosis sinuosaSinuous Lytrosis
Lytrosis unitariaCommon Lytrosis
Macaria aemulatariaCommon Angle
Macaria pustulariaLesser Maple Spanworm Moth
Macrurocampa marthesiaMottled Prominent
Malacosoma americanaEastern Tent Caterpillar
Malacosoma disstriaForest Tent Caterpillar
Megalopyge crispataBlack-Waved Flannel Moth, Crinkled Flannel Moth
Megalopyge opercularisSouthern Flannel Moth, Puss Caterpillar
Melanolophia canadariaCanadian Melanolphia, Variable Redmarked Looper
Melanolophia signatariaSignate Melanolphia
Metaxaglaea viaticaRoadside Sallow
Morrisonia confusaConfused Woodgrain
Nadata gibbosaWhite-Dotted Prominent
Natada nasoniNason's Slug Moth
Nematocampa resistariaFilament Bearer, Horned Spanworm Moth
Nemoria lixariaRed-Bordered Emerald
Nemoria mimosariaWhite-Fringed Emerald
Nymphalis antiopaMourning Cloak
Oedemasia concinnaRed-Humped Caterpillar, Red-Humped Appleworm
Oedemasia semirufescensRed-Washed Prominent
Oiketicus abbotiiAbbot's Bagworm Moth
Orgyia definitaDefinite Tussock Moth
Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
Orthosia alurinaGray Quaker
Orthotaenia undulanaDusky Leafroller
Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
Pandemis limitataThree-Lined Leafroller Moth
Paonias excaecataBlinded Sphinx, Blind Eyed Sphinx
Paonias myopsSmall-Eyed Sphinx
Papaipema cataphractaBurdock Border, Potato-Stalk Borer
Papilio glaucusEastern Tiger Swallowtail
Parallelia bistriarisMaple Looper Moth
Parasa indeterminaStinging Rose Caterpillar Moth, Rose Slug Caterpillar
Peridea basitriensOval-Based Prominent
Pero ancetariaHubner's Pero
Phaeoura quernariaOak Beauty Moth
Phigalia strigatariaSmall Phigalia, Small Oak Looper
Phigalia titeaThe Half-Wing Geometer, Spiney Looper, Eastern Oak Looper
Phlogophora periculosaBrown Angle Shades
Phobetron pitheciumHag Moth, Monkey Slug
Phyllodesma americanaLappet Moth, American Lappet Moth, Southern Lappet Moth
Plagodis alcoolariaHollow-Spotted Plagodis
Plagodis fervidariaFervid Plagodis
Platynota flavedanaBlack-Shaded Platynota
Pococera asperatellaMaple Webworm
Prionoxystus macmurtreiLittle Carpenterworm, Lesser Oak Carpenter Worm
Prionoxystus robiniaeCarpenterworm Moth, Black Locust Borer, Cottonwood Borer
Probole alienariaDogwood Probole, Alien Probole
Probole amicariaFriendly Probole
Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
Prolimacodes badiaSkiff Moth, Skiff Caterpillar
Proteoteras aesculanaMaple Seed Caterpillar, Maple Twig Borer
Protoboarmia porcelariaPorcelain Gray, Dashedlined Looper
Psaphida resumensFigure-Eight Sallow
Psaphida styracisFawn Sallow
Pseudexentera spolianaBare-Patched Leafroller
Psilocorsis cryptolechiellaBlack-Fringed Leaftier
Psilocorsis reflexellaDotted Leaftier Moth
Pyrrharctia isabellaIsabella Tiger Moth, Banded Woolybear
Rifargia subrotataSmall Heterocampa
Satyrium calanusBanded Hairstreak, Falacer Hairstreak
Schizura ipomaeaeMorning-Glory Prominent, Checkered-Fringe Prominent
Sonia canadanaCanadian Sonia Moth
Spilosoma virginicaVirginian Tiger Moth, Yellow Woolybear Moth, Yellow Bear
Strepsicrates smithianaBayberry Leaftier
Sunira bicoloragoBicolored Sallow
Synanthedon acerniMaple Callus Borer Moth
Synanthedon acerrubriRed Maple Borer, Maple Clearwing
Tetracis cachexiataWhite Slant-Line
Tetracis crocallataYellow Slant-Line
Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
Tolype velledaLarge Tolype, Large Lappet Moth, Vellada Lappet Moth
Tortricidia pallidaRed-Cross Button Slug
Xanthotype sospetaCrocus Geometer
Xanthotype urticariaFalse Crocus Geometer
Xestia dolosaGreater Black-Letter Dart, Greater Spotted Cutworm
Zale galbanataMaple Zale, Boxelder Zale
Zale lunataLunate Zale
Zale minereaColorful Zale
Zanclognatha cruralisEarly Zanclognatha, Early Fan-Foot
Zeiraphera claypoleanaBuckeye Petiole Borer
Carmenta corni
Holcocera crassicornella
Trypanisma prudens

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

15BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Acer

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0

0Specialist beesPollen specialists

7BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Acer

Aix sponsaWood Duck
Bonasa umbellusRuffed Grouse
Cardinalis cardinalisNorthern Cardinal
Coccothraustes vespertinusEvening Grosbeak
Ectopistes migratoriusPassenger Pigeon
Pheucticus ludovicianusRose-breasted Grosbeak
Pinicola enucleatorPine Grosbeak

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Sapindaceae
Hardiness: Zones 2–10
Flower color: White
Growth rate: Rapid
Growth habit: Several stems
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Summer
Fruit ends: Fall

What its natural habitat tells you

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “Early spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Flower color · “White” · USDA PLANTS (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center differs) · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Fall” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Several stems” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Rapid” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Hardiness · “Zones 2–10” · Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder
Height · “About 60 feet” · USDA PLANTS (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder differ) · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Leaves · “Deciduous” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Leaf retention · “Deciduous” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Life cycle · “Perennial” · Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Light · “Full sun (minimum requirement)” · Virginia DCR Piedmont (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder differ) · Virginia regional planting chart; sunlight is a minimum requirement, moisture is low/moderate/high
Soil · “Moderate” · Virginia DCR Piedmont (ranked first; Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder differ) · Virginia regional planting chart; sunlight is a minimum requirement, moisture is low/moderate/high
Spread · “30–50 feet” · Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder

Also known as

Box elder; Eastern Boxelder

Conservation status

Florida rank	SNR
Global rank	G5
FL status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

Will it fit your yard?

Check this plant against your county, sun and soil moisture. Conditions are checked in your browser.

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How to check your spot

Box-elder

At a glance

Also found with this plant

Who uses this plant?

Plant details

Conservation status

Will it fit your yard?

Sources

More Acer