Nyssa sylvatica
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- NY-suh sil-VAT-ee-kuh
- Description
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Blackgum is a deciduous tree that may grow 50 to 80 feet tall. It is found in dry upland forests (occasionally bottomlands), savannas, and upland depressions that are occasionally flooded. The tree has alternative leaves with a smooth margin. On sprouts or young trees, leaves may have a few coarse teeth. The leaves have a beautiful red fall color. The bark is light gray and deeply furrowed to create rectangular or square ridges (cobbled). In spring, small, light green flowers mature in clusters. The tree produces an egg-shaped, blue-black fruit which matures in the fall. This tree is tolerant of heat. It is mostly dioecious: male plants are helpful in getting female fruit sets.
The bark is light grey and deeply furrowed to create rectangular or square ridges (cobbled).
Tupelo honey is highly prized. Black tupelo has a flowering habit that is polygamodioecious. Polybamodioecious is a big word meaning some plants have mostly male flowers while others have mostly female flowers, with most plants having a few perfect flowers. This would account for some plant being loaded with berries, while others may only have a few berries.
This tree is moderately salt tolerant.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Seasons of Interest:
Leaves: Fall Bloom: Spring, Summer Fruit/Seed/Nut: Fall
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: The Black tupelo has some susceptibility to leaf spots, canker, rust, leaf miner, and scale.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Entrance Statement, Fescue Grass
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Autumn Cascades'
Weeping - 'Green Gable'
- 'Red Rage'
- 'Sheri's Cloud'
Variegated foliage - 'Snow Flurries'
- 'Sparkler'
- 'Wildfire'
- 'Zydeco Twist'
Contorted growth
- 'Autumn Cascades'
- 'Autumn Cascades', 'Green Gable', 'Red Rage', 'Sheri's Cloud', 'Snow Flurries', 'Sparkler', 'Wildfire', 'Zydeco Twist'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Autumn Cascades'
Weeping - 'Green Gable'
- 'Red Rage'
- 'Sheri's Cloud'
Variegated foliage - 'Snow Flurries'
- 'Sparkler'
- 'Wildfire'
- 'Zydeco Twist'
Contorted growth
- 'Autumn Cascades'
- 'Autumn Cascades', 'Green Gable', 'Red Rage', 'Sheri's Cloud', 'Snow Flurries', 'Sparkler', 'Wildfire', 'Zydeco Twist'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Nyssa
- Species:
- sylvatica
- Family:
- Nyssaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America, NC
- Distribution:
- Maine south to FL west to TX OK NB and Missouri north east through IL and MI and Ontario
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Its young sprouts are eaten by white-tailed deer. The fruits (berries) are enjoyed by thrushes and other songbirds, wild turkeys, black bear, foxes, raccoons and opossums. The natural hollows that form in the tree are a refuge for reptiles, tree frogs, bats and other wildlife. The spring flowers are a nectar source for bees.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to fire. This tree is somewhat resistant to deer damage.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 8 in. - 35 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Open
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- 24-60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Description:
- In the fall the tree produces a bluish black egg-shaped fruit. Fruits are available August-October.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers of the Blackgum that bloom in the spring are not showy. They are 0.5" in size. Flowers bloom April-June.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The Blackgum is grown as an ornamental for its beautiful, scarlet red, fall color and the shiny, dark green leaves in the summer. The leaves are 3"-6" alternate, simple and lustrous that turn yellow, orange, red to purple in the fall. On sprouts or young trees, the leaves may have a few coarse teeth.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Ridges
- Bark Plate Shape:
- Rectangle
- Square
- Bark Description:
- The bark is light grey and deeply furrowed to create rectangular or square ridges (cobbled).
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Fire
- Heat
- Salt
- Wet Soil
