When I was learning to identify plants, the leaves of boxelder used to trip me up. The leaves of this tree looked so much like poison ivy to me. There are a few key features that can help you tell the difference between these two plants.
Boxelder Similarities with Poison Ivy
The leaves and leaflets of these two plants have a similar appearance. While poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) has three leaves, boxelder (Acer negundo) often has 3 leaflets but it may have as many as 7. The leaves of both boxelder and poison ivy are serrated or lobed.
Additionally, these two plants can be found growing in the same locations. Boxelder grows in disturbed areas and bottomlands, just like poison ivy.
Differences Between Boxelder and Poison Ivy
The easiest way to tell this plant from poison ivy is to look at the leaf attachment to the twig. Boxelder leaves are arranged oppositely, meaning the leaves attach to the twig at the same spot on the opposite side (directly opposite from each other).
Poison ivy leaves are alternately arranged, meaning the leaves attach to the twig in an alternating pattern, not at the same spot.
While poison ivy has 3 simple leaves, boxelder leaves are compound, meaning they are made up of 3 to 7 leaflets. To differentiate a leaf from a leaflet, look for the lateral bud. Lateral buds only appear at the base of a leaf. View an example of a simple versus compound leaf.
Another quick way to tell them apart is that the stem of new growth on boxelder is often reddish/pink or purple.
About Boxelder
Boxelder is the only maple with compound leaves. It is found throughout the eastern half of the United States. Boxelder is also known as ashleaf maple or boxelder maple. It tolerates a variety of soil types and moisture regimes. It is drought-tolerant as well as heat-tolerant and cold-tolerant.
Box elder is fast-growing and reaches a height of up to 50 feet. It is somewhat shade tolerant but often grows at the forest edge. This tree is dioecious, meaning it has separate male and female trees. The wind pollinates the flowers of the female trees. The wind also helps disperse the seeds of the boxelder, which are known as samaras.
Value to Wildlife
Boxelders provide cover and food to a variety of wildlife. Birds and small mammals eat the seeds (samaras). White-tailed deer eat the young leaves. This tree is a host plant for the imperial moth and the cecropia moth as well as nearly 300 other species of butterflies and moths (Urban Ecology Center, 2013).