Black Maple Acer nigrum
Previously known as:
- Acer barbatum var. nigrum
- Acer saccharinum var. nigrum
- Acer saccharum subsp. nigrum
- Acer saccharum var. nigrum
- Phonetic Spelling
- AY-ser NY-grum
- Description
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Black Maple is a large deciduous tree in the Sapindaceae (maple) family native to Eastern and Central USA and can be found in the mountains of NC. The species epithet, nigrum, is Latin for "black."
It typically grows 60 to 80 feet tall with a rounded crown. It differs from sugar maple (A. saccharum) by having darker bark, leafy stipules at the base of leaf stems and leaves that are 3-lobed and a darker green.
The fall color is in attractive shades of red, orange and yellow. The tree can be tapped to make maple syrup.
Black Maple can be grown in well-drained, moist, average soil in full sun to partial shade. Use as a large shade tree, street tree or in parks.
It is a host plant for the larvae of both the Imperial (Eacles imperialis) and Gypsy (Lymantria dispar) moths.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. See potential disease and insect 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:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Acer
- Species:
- nigrum
- Family:
- Sapindaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Wood used in construction and making furniture.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and central USA
- Wildlife Value:
- Members of the genus Acer support Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis) larvae which have one brood per season and appear from April-October in the south. Adult Imperial Moths do not feed. Provides shelter, nesting sites and birds will eat the seeds. Many insects feed off parts of the tree.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Heat and drought tolerant.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Rounded
- Texture:
- Medium
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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:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Samara
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Clusters of paired samaras (to 1” long) that mature in late summer.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Male flowers are yellow-green in 2-4 inch long drooping umbels. Female flowers are similar but umbels are shorter.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Orbicular
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 3 to 6 in. opposite, simple leaves with 3-5 palmate lobes and an orbicular outline. Leaves are drooping, and leathery. Fall color is in reds, oranges and yellows.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Light Brown
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Bark Description:
- The trunk bark is grayish-brown or grayish black, becoming rougher and irregularly furrowed with age.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Buds:
- Hairy
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Cluster of terminal buds
- Stem Lenticels:
- Conspicuous
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Branch bark is gray and more smooth, while twigs are various shades of gray or brown, glabrous, and covered with scattered white lenticels. Buds are reddish-brown with some green and with fine hair. Terminal buds are multiple
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Moths
- Pollinators
