Acer negundo

California Box Elder

This is a fairly small tree of the Maple group which grows to 30 feet and has bright green foliage in early spring and winged seeds which are red when young. The Box Elder is common throughout the Coast Ranges where it grows along the banks of creeks and streams, often in the understory of Bays, Redwoods, and other native trees. It is very fast- growing.

Wildlife value: Maple seeds as well as buds and flowers provide food for many kinds of birds and other animals. Squirrels eat the seeds and often store them in caches. Chipmunks do the same. Birds use the leaves and seed stalks to build nests, and deer will browse the foliage (but not detrimentally).