Black Maple (Acer nigrum) is a native tree in Maryland (Deciduous). The sections below summarize where it grows, how to recognize it, and how it supports local ecosystems.
Habitat and range
Rich coves and lower slopes, often mixed with sugar maple in western and central Maryland.
Identification
Similar to sugar maple with droopy leaf tips and often three lobes; milky sap; furrowed bark on older trunks.
Soil and moisture
Deep, moist, well-drained loam; tolerates shade as a maple subcanopy tree.
Wildlife value
Samara seeds for birds and small mammals; spring flowers for early insects; fall color for people and pollinators on warm days.
Uses and significance
Sugar syrup potential where tapped; timber grouped with hard maple; shade tree on suitable sites.