Manitoba Maple / Boxelder Maple

About Manitoba Maple / Boxelder Maple in Alberta

Manitoba Maple, also called Boxelder Maple, is both a locally native Alberta riparian tree and a widely planted human-settlement tree. Its native Alberta range is limited mainly to eastern and east-central river systems, but it has been planted and naturalized far beyond that range in towns, farmyards, shelterbelts, alleys, gardens, and rough urban edges. For ARA, heritage value can come from native river-valley trees, old shelterbelt and farmstead specimens, or rugged urban survivors tied to Alberta settlement landscapes.

Identification: Leaves are opposite and pinnately compound, usually with 3-9 coarsely toothed leaflets. This compound leaf is the easiest way to separate Manitoba Maple from Alberta's other maples, which have simple palmate leaves.

Alberta range and habitat: Manitoba Maple is native in limited parts of eastern and east-central Alberta, especially along river systems in grassland and aspen parkland settings. It should not be presented as a province-wide native wild tree.