Black Maple

The Black Sugar Maple is just as handsome as its Common Sugar Maple brother. Its leaves are 3-lobed rather than 5-lobed and if it is the ...Read Morepure variety, it has two little stipules on the bottom of the leaf stem (petiole). There are many individuals with the 3-lobes, but no stipules. Its fall color ranges from bright yellow to orange to red. (Straight species Sugar and Black Maples growing in the richer, more alkaline soils of the Midwest usually color golden yellow while those in the more acid, less fertile soils of the East, as New England, usually color orange to red; though there are a few individuals that will color red in the Midwestern situation. Those trees that color red in the Midwestern situation are chosen as cultivars for that autumn coloration.) Black Sugar Maple is often a little more drought tolerant and its wood is reputed to be a little harder. Some of the new cultivars that are more drought tolerant, grow a little faster, and have red fall color are either Black or partial Black in variety. It also often lives about 150 years to 200 years, growing about 1 1/4' to 1 1/3'/year in youth. It can also be tapped in late Feb into March for about 30 gallons of sap to be boiled down to one gallon of water. Its native range is similar but smaller than the more common form, but not found as far northeast,(not found in NH & ME & the Canadian maritime area beyond), but found much farther west in Iowa.

There are good numbers of it at the Minnesota Arboretum. Can be tough to difference from Sugar Maple - generally but not 100% proof Black...Read More Maple only have bright yellow fall color - no red or oranges in it but still very lovely compare to some other yellows.

Acer saccharum nigrum BLACK MAPLE Dec (z4) (NAm,Ed)
Boasting "all the fine qualities of the Sugar Maple: it is long-lived, stately...Read More, gorgeous in its autumnal coloration"(Peattie) & mid-westerners say !, yields more & better syrup; 3-lobed lvs, velvety beneath. S/M