Black Gum Nyssa biflora
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Black Gum:
- Phonetic Spelling
- NIH-suh by-FLOR-uh
- Description
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Black gum is a large deciduous shade tree in the tupelo family (Nyssaceae) native to the United States. It is found naturally in flooded swamps, pinelands, and pocosins, where it can grow 60 to 100 feet tall and 20 to 40 feet wide.
It prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained acidic soils. This slow-growing tree is difficult to transplant, so choose its location wisely.
Black gum is mostly dioecious, meaning it has separate male and female trees. The male trees are necessary pollinizers to get fruit set on the female trees. This plant has stunning red fall color.
Use in a naturalized area, as a lawn, or street tree, or a low-lying area of the yard, as it withstands wet sites well.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Tolerant of heat. Leaf miners and scale are occasional visitors. Susceptible to tent caterpillars. Canker, leaf spots, and rust can affect stressed trees.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Nyssa
- Species:
- biflora
- Family:
- Nyssaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- lumber, veneer, paper pulp, railroad ties, flooring, rollers in glass factories, blocks, gunstocks, and pistol grips
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern to middle United States
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , DE , FL , GA , IL , LA , MD , MO , MS , NC , NJ , SC , TN , TX , VA
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers are a nectar source for bees. Fruits are attractive to birds and small mammals.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- dark purplish blue drupe ½-⅝ inch long, They are available August-October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- The small greenish-white flowers bloom April-June singly or in small clusters.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Obovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- alternate simple leaves vary in shape and are broadly lanceolate to obovate to elliptical. Margins are entire to sparsely dentate and size is 3-6 inches long 1-2 inches wide leaf
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Diamond
- Bark Description:
- The bark is reddish brown and has deep irregular ridges and diamond-shaped plate. It can be very thick on older trees.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Slender gray-brown twigs
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Wet Soil
