Acer nigrum is a large deciduous tree in the maple family (Sapindaceae) native to Eastern and Central United States, found in the mountains of North Carolina and across the Midwest into the Great Plains. Closely related to Sugar Maple and sometimes classified as a subspecies, it is more tolerant of summer drought and heat — a meaningful practical difference for gardeners where Sugar Maple's requirements cannot always be met. It typically grows to 60 feet with a broad, rounded crown.

The autumn colour follows the Sugar Maple pattern — yellow, orange, and red — with the same dependability and intensity. Moths visit the spring flowers. For gardeners in zones 5 to 7 in the Midwest who want the stature and seasonal drama of a large native maple without the management challenges that Sugar Maple presents on drier, warmer sites, Black Maple is the ecologically and practically honest choice.