Winter Lightning Maple Acer negundo 'Winter Lightning'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser neg-UN-doh
- Description
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Yellow-twigged box elder is a hybrid deciduous small tree or large shrub in the maple family (Sapindaceae). It is very cold-tolerant and will grow in most lower 48 states.
This fast-growing treel grows 20-30 feet tall and 15- 25 feet wide in a rounded multi-stemmed shrub-like form but can be trained to a single trunk if desired. It prefers full sun to partial shade in moist but well-drained soils.
The yellow stems are present year-round but show up best in winter when the leaves are off. Spring flowers are followed by 2-winged samaras. The leaves turn shades of yellow in the fall.
Received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Plant in groups to form a hedgerow or screen or use it in a small space as a shade tree. Will do well along ponds and streams.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Aphids and horse chestnut scale are occasional insect problems. Powdery mildew and verticillium wilt are occasionally disease issues. See potential insect and disease problem fact sheets to the left.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common maple diseases and insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Xeric Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- negundo
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers are pollinated by bees.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 25 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Description:
- 2-winged samaras in fall
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- Small creamy yellow-green flowers in the spring
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Light green pinnately compound leaves (3-9 leaflets). Bright yellow fall color
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Showy yellow stems make attractive backdrop in a winter landscape.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Fairy Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Small Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Humidity
