Beautiful fall colors on this tree, but what is it?

Our firestation was landscaped about 1 1/2 years ago. I have been watching this lovely tree now through 2 falls. It manages to have green, yellow, red and burgundy leaves all at the same time. They put in four of them, but what is it? It is very nice in the fall.

Here is another one slightly farther along.

Here are leaves I plucked from these trees showing all of their colors and perhaps givin g a clue as to their id.

Sure looks like you've got some colorful Acer negundo there. Opposite compound foliage arrangement, reasonably vigorous growth extensions...are the young stems quite green? That would solidify the ID.

You ought to post these pictures in the PlantFiles. Posting them here is a nice thumb in the eye to those who would denigrate this fine workhorse of a native tree, the boxelder maple.

Will do. Thanks for the ID.

I looked under Box Elder and noticed that all the Plant Flies on this tree have a variety. I have no idea what plant variety this one is. Wouldn't that preclude my putting it into the Plant Files?
Betty

I guess that must be what it is, but it sure gives a new perspective to the much-despised words "box elder" doesn't it!

Guy S.

It doesn't over-ride the beatle problem for me though. Ken

The red/burgundy hues certainly adds a new "wrinkle" to the traditional yellow fall colors to which I'm familiar with, but then again I've had little contact with A. negundo cultivars.

conifer50

A. negundo 'Sensation' is a newer cultivar that purports to have nice red fall color. I recall RonB on that "other" forum mentioning it, and since its a fairly new planting I'm guessing that's probably it.

Could it be Acer henryi?

Wow! That one would almost tempt me to plant a boxelder - rather than constantly cursing them for popping up everywhere, and being a decidedly trashy, weedy tree, most of which suffer from a Garlon deficiency.

I believe that box elder is also dioecious, for the most part. It would be great if that particular tree was a male, then it could be planted without having the seed or bug problems of the female trees.


Can box elder be rooted? It would be nice to see if that tree performs the same in other climates.
Mike