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Nyssa sinensis

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
NY-suh sih-NEN-sis
Description

This tree is from Asia. In spring the new leaves emerge as a bronze-purple, turn green during the growing season and are orange, yellow and red in autumn. It grows well in marginal soils that are too wet for most other tree species. The blue fruits can be a little messy in the fall.

Chinese Tupelo is known in cultivation as a more compact version of its relative  N. sylvatica  (the black tupelo). Both plants, originating from swamps and wetlands, require moist conditions.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#fall interest#showy fruits#wet soils tolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#fall interest#showy fruits#wet soils tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Nyssa
    Species:
    sinensis
    Family:
    Nyssaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Asia
    Dimensions:
    Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 15 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Multi-stemmed
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil Drainage:
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    24-60 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Blue
    Purple/Lavender
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    small blue/purple fruits
  • Flowers:
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Insignificant
    Flower Description:
    Small, greenish-white flowers appear in the spring in axillary clusters
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Margin:
    Dentate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The six-inch-long, green leaves turn brilliant shades of red, yellow, and orange in fall
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Pond
    Landscape Theme:
    Water Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Specimen