Acer Nigrum Black Maple

Acer nigrum, commonly known as Black Maple, is a deciduous tree native to the eastern and central United States. Often considered a subspecies of the sugar maple (Acer saccharum subsp. nigrum), it is distinguished by its drooping, three-lobed leaves, darker bark, and stipules at the base of the leaf stems . Black Maple thrives in moist, calcareous soils, particularly in floodplain forests, and is valued for its dense shade and brilliant yellow-orange fall foliage . The tree can live up to 200 years and, like its sugar maple relative, is tapped for maple syrup production . Its wood is commercially sold as hard maple lumber. While not widely recognized for awards, its ecological and ornamental value makes it a noteworthy species in native landscapes.