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Native Plant Database

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Acer nigrum Michx. f.

Black maple

Aceraceae (Maple Family)

USDA Symbol: ACNI5

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A tree 75-120 ft. tall with a straight central trunk in the forest and a widely spreading branch system in the open. Very similar in all characteristics to sugar maple. Yellow to orange-red fall foliage.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Opposite
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Palmate
Leaf Pubescence: Tomentose
Leaf Margin: Lobed
Size Notes: Medium to tall tree, up to 100ft.
Leaf: Green
Autumn Foliage: yes
Flower: Flowers small
Fruit: Green, Brown Two-winged horseshoe-shaped samaras about 1in long, appearing in clusters.
Size Class: More than 100 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green
Bloom Time: Apr , May
Bloom Notes: Flowers appear with the leaves.

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , PA , SD , TN , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: NS , ON , QC
Native Distribution: NH to s. Ont., MI & s.e. MN, s. to n.e. NJ, PA, MO & extreme n. AR; also NC & TN mts.
Native Habitat: Bottomlands; drier, calcareous sites; woods
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Dry to moist, often calcareous soils.

Propagation

Description: Propagation is possible by seed. Not considered easy to root from cuttings.
Seed Collection: The winged fruit of maples is called a samara. Seed is usually not extracted from the samara.
Seed Treatment: Cold stratify in a moist sand or peat/perlite mixture for 60-90 days.
Commercially Avail: yes

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Natural Biodiversity - Johnstown, PA

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Acer nigrum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Acer nigrum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Acer nigrum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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