Bark Trivia

I don't think it looks like box elder. But they often grow crooked and twisted.

 

Sass X2

 

Do box elder leaves look like maple leaves?

 

The wood weight and texture is very similar to sassafras IMO. First time I cut one I actually thought it was a variety of sassafras until FHC IDed for me.

 

They look like poison ivy leaves but are compound like ash or hickory. Unique for sure.

 

I sarcastically call it the poison ivy tree. Surprising resemblance, so much so that if i didn't know poison ivy was only a vine, there'd be much more standing.

Edit:

 

Most I’ve seen the have 5 points if hard to see at first glance.

 

That pictures from Google. So i picked the one i remember seeing most. Not sure if it has to do with the age of the trees? Admittedly I've never cut one of much size. Mostly unwanted shrub brush while i helped do some mowing/landscape work. 3 leaves and non symmetrical lobes always puts me on high alert.

 

Kinda, sorta, not really.

 

I’ll go with Catalpa. That WAG hasn’t paid off in quite a few years. It’s time again.

 

Ding, ding, ding!!! WE have a winner! No leaves on them yet.

WAG??? couldn't figure that one out.

Most I see are on the gnarly side growing roadside/ abandoned lots etc. This was in a wooded area between properties. Several others in close proximity. Also known as catawba

 

Wild azz guess

 

Got it now! Usually I can figure them out.

 

It's definitely not box elder

 

Sorta

 

Catalpa is definitely a weed tree. Grows super fast, low BTU. I've burned a lot more of it than you'd think. I got a couple of loads of it in recent years, mostly from tree services

 

So is it a “weed” tree in the sense that it spreads easily? Like a mulberry or tree of heaven? Our city (village) park has a lot of mature ones and I have never seen evidence of them trying to spread.

 

I agree

 

I see Catalpa in many cemetery settings around here. Easy to spot from afar they have huge (bigly) leaves.

 

There's a few around here too. Pretty flowers too.