Nyssa sylvatica
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- NY-suh sil-VAT-ee-kuh
- Description
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Blackgum or Black Tupelo is a native deciduous tree that may grow 50 ft.-80 ft. tall but typically reaches 20 ft.-30 ft. in cultivation. It is slow growing reaching about 12 ft.-15 ft. in about ten years, growing faster with a good watering and fertilizer schedule. It is found in dry upland forests (occasionally bottomlands), savannas, and upland depressions that are occasionally flooded. The Blackgum is grown as an ornamental for its beautiful, scarlet red, fall color and the shiny, dark green leaves in the summer.
It 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 plants being loaded with egg-shaped blue-black berries, while others may only have a few berries. The nectar from the flowers is sought after by bees and Tupelo honey is highly prized.
This tree is an excellent choice to support wildlife in the landscape. It is tolerant of drought, heat, dry and wet soils, and moderately salt tolerant. It withstands wind and ice and salt spray in coastal locations.
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: Leaf miner, and scale are occasional insect pests. It has some susceptibility to leaf spots, canker, and rust.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Entrance Statement, Fescue Grass
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Autumn Cascades'
Weeping - 'Green Gable'
Upright branching, red fall color - 'Red Rage'
Bright red fall color, little leaf spot. - 'Red Splyndor'
Red fall color - 'Sheri's Cloud'
Variegated foliage - 'Snow Flurries'
- 'Sparkler'
- 'Wildfire'
New growth bronze-red - 'Zydeco Twist'
Contorted growth
- 'Autumn Cascades'
- 'Autumn Cascades', 'Green Gable', 'Red Rage', 'Red Splyndor', 'Sheri's Cloud', 'Snow Flurries', 'Sparkler', 'Wildfire', 'Zydeco Twist'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Autumn Cascades'
Weeping - 'Green Gable'
Upright branching, red fall color - 'Red Rage'
Bright red fall color, little leaf spot. - 'Red Splyndor'
Red fall color - 'Sheri's Cloud'
Variegated foliage - 'Snow Flurries'
- 'Sparkler'
- 'Wildfire'
New growth bronze-red - 'Zydeco Twist'
Contorted growth
- 'Autumn Cascades'
- 'Autumn Cascades', 'Green Gable', 'Red Rage', 'Red Splyndor', '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 from August through October. It is one of the most important food sources for fall song bird migration. 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.
- Edibility:
- The honey from this tree is highly prized.
- 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:
- Slow
- 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
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- In the late summer to mid-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 bloom in the spring from April-June are not showy. They are 0.5" in size.
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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:
- Leaves are 3 in.-6 in. 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:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Native Garden
- Nighttime Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Bats
- Bees
- Frogs
- Pollinators
- Reptiles
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Specialized Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Fire
- Heat
- Salt
- Wet Soil
- Wind
