Box Elder is the only maple with compound leaves, giving it an unusual appearance among its relatives. It grows rapidly in disturbed areas, floodplains, and along streams across much of North America. Its prolific winged seeds feed evening grosbeaks, finches, and many small mammals through winter.
Best time to see a Box Elder
The best time to see a Box Elder is March–June, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 89,971 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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