Black maple is similar to sugar maple but with drooping leaves that often have three lobes and velvety undersides. Fall color is yellow to orange. It was sometimes classified as a variety of sugar maple.
Habitat and range
In Maryland, black maple grows in rich, moist woods, on slopes, and in bottomlands, often mixed with sugar maple. It is less common than sugar maple and prefers calcareous or neutral soils.
Uses and significance
Like sugar maple, black maple can be tapped for syrup. The wood is used for lumber, flooring, and furniture. Black maple contributes to the diversity of maple-dominated forests in the region.