Black Tupelo (also known as Black Gum or SOUR GUM)
Nyssa sylvatica · Deciduous Broadleaf Hardwood Native
Plant Family
Nyssaceae (Tupelo family)
Tree Category
Shade Tree, Forest Tree, Ornamental, Fall Color Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Common wild variety (distinct from specific cultivars like 'Wildfire' or 'Green Gable')
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9; highly adaptable to various climates from cold northern winters to humid southern summers.
About This Tree
A slow-growing deciduous tree with a stately, straight trunk and horizontal to slightly pendulous branching. It often develops a dense, conical or pyramidal crown when young, becoming more irregular and flat-topped with age. Famous for its brilliant scarlet fall foliage.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate arrangement; oval to obovate shape; 2-5 inches long; glossy dark green above, paler beneath; margins are usually entire (smooth) but occasionally have a few coarse teeth; turns intense shades of yellow, orange, and predominantly bright red in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Gray-brown to brown; smooth on young branches, becoming deeply furrowed and blocky into an 'alligator hide' pattern on mature trunks, providing significant winter interest.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Eastern North America from Ontario south to Florida and west to Texas.
Growing Season
Leafs out in late spring (one of the last to leaf out); flowers in May-June; fruits ripen in Sept-Oct; enters dormancy after spectacular autumn display.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers moist, well-drained, acidic soils but is highly adaptable to wet, boggy conditions as well as moderate drought once established.
Mature Size
Reaches 30-50 feet in height with a spread of 20-30 feet; slow to moderate growth rate; can live for several hundred years (some specimens exceeding 500 years).
Special Characteristics
Exceptional resistance to pests and diseases; outstanding fall color consistency; high tolerance for poorly drained and periodically flooded soils; wood is extremely tough and difficult to split.
Wildlife & Ecology
Critical ecological value; small greenish-white flowers are a premier nectar source for honeybees (producing high-quality Tupelo honey); small blue-black drupes are highly prized by migrating birds, black bears, and small mammals; provides excellent nesting sites.