Nyssa sylvatica

Common Names

Tupelo, Black Gum Tree, Common Tupelo Tree, Cotton Gum, Pepperidge, Sour Gum Tree

Summary

Nyssa sylvatica, commonly called Black Gum, Black Tupelo, Sour Gum, or Pepperidge, is a deciduous tree native to the eastern United States, it typically grows 30–50 feet tall and 20–30 feet wide with a pyramidal to oval crown and a straight trunk, leaves are glossy dark green and turn brilliant fall colors of orange, red, and purple, small greenish-yellow flowers appear in spring, followed by blue-black drupes that attract wildlife, the tree is dioecious with separate male and female plants, female trees require a male pollinator to set fruit, the bark is deeply ridged described as resembling alligator skin, and the tree tolerates a wide range of soils and moisture conditions making it adaptable for landscapes and valued for fall color and wildlife use, for cultivation Nyssa sylvatica prefers full sun to partial shade and moist acidic soils but tolerates a wide range of soil types and moisture conditions including wet and drought once established, it is relatively low maintenance with a slow to moderate growth rate and a long taproot that makes transplanting difficult, it can be used as a shade tree, specimen, or urban street tree and is suitable for planting in landscapes that require drought and flood tolerance, fruits provide wildlife value, common pests include leaf spots, cankers, rust, leaf miner, and scale, pruning is minimal, cultivars exist to provide a range of growth habits and fall colors

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

360-900 inches

Spread

240-420 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun, tolerates partial sun, tolerates partial shade, grows in full sun to partial shade

Soil Type

Moist, well-drained, acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.0–7.4)

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil (acidic preferred)

Soil pH

5.0-7.4

Bloom Color

Insignificant

Bloom Time

Spring (April–June)

Foliage Color

Dark green, glossy leaves; new growth reddish-purple; autumn foliage turns red, orange, yellow, and purple.

Fall Foliage Color

Red, orange, yellow, and purple, with reds and oranges often predominating

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow-growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Layering, Cuttings

Attracts Wildlife

Bees: Yes, Birds: Yes, Hummingbirds: Unknown, Butterflies: Unknown, Other pollinators: Yes