Nyssa sylvatica
Common Name(s):
- Black Gum
- Black Tupelo
- Sour Gum
- Description
The Nyssa sylvatica or black tupelo is a native to Eastern North America. It can be found from the New England states in the North down into Florida and as far west as Eastern Texas. It reaches heights of 60 feet or taller with a spread of 20 to 25 feet and casts filtered shade in a landscape. Although slow-growing, it still needs to be sited in an area which affords plenty of room for future growth, particularly since it is so difficult to transplant due to long taproots.
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.
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.
- Cultivars:
-
- Autumn Cascades (weeping)
- Green Gable
- Red Rage
- Sheri's Cloud (variegated foliage)
- Wildfire
- Zydeco Twist (contorted growth)
- Autumn Cascades (weeping)
- Tags:
- Cultivars:
-
- Autumn Cascades (weeping)
- Green Gable
- Red Rage
- Sheri's Cloud (variegated foliage)
- Wildfire
- Zydeco Twist (contorted growth)
- Autumn Cascades (weeping)
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Nyssa
- Species:
- sylvatica
- Family:
- Nyssaceae
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern North America
- 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 Enhancement
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to fire. This tree is somewhat resistant to deer damage.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Open
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full Sun (Direct sunlight 8+ hours a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight (2-4 hrs) for only part of the day
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Good Drainage
- 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, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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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.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers of the Blackgum that bloom in the spring are not showy. They are 0.5 in. in size.
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Leaves:
- 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:
- 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 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:
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Street Tree
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Salt
- Wet Soil
- Similar plants:
-
Quercus phellos
-
Persea borbonia
-
Quercus rubra
