Question
Is this a maple tree
I think I have a red-leaf maple growing in my yard from a neighbor's tree, but it's too small to really tell. If that's what it is, then I want to keep it, but if it is a weed or something, then I don't want it. I have tried searching online, but I've found nothing conclusive because most are fall photos.
Please send information about how to tell, green photos would be great! Is there any way that I can send a photo to you, and you could tell me?
AnswerIt is one of the maple species -- it is a boxelder.
Acer negundo is a species of maple native to North America. Box Elder, Boxelder Maple, and Maple Ash are its most common names in the United States. Other variant names -- some of which are regional - include Ash Maple, Ash-leaf Maple, Black Ash, California Boxelder, Cutleaf Maple, Cut-leaved Maple, Negundo Maple, Red River Maple, Stinking Ash, Sugar Ash, Three-leaved Maple, and Western Boxelder. In Canada it is commonly known as Manitoba Maple and occasionally as Elf Maple.
Unlike most other maples (which usually have simple, palmately lobed leaves), Acer negundo has pinnately compound leaves that usually have three to seven leaflets. Simple leaves are also occasionally present; technically, these are single-leaflet compound leaves.
Here is a web link to more information on boxelder
http://www.uwgb.edu/biodiversity/herbarium/trees/aceneg01.htm
