The most widely distributed member in North America is the black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica), also known as black gum, sour gum, or pepperidge tree.It grows in woods and moist areas from Maine southward to the Gulf Coast and westward to Oklahoma. Black gum has attractive, deeply ridged bark.Barbara H. Smith, ©2018 HGIC, Clemson Extension. Slow to moderate rate (12 to 15 feet over 10 to 15 years). Throughout its native range, black gum is typically found along streams, swamp margins, and on upland sights. Aug 9, 2014 - Black Tupelo - Nyssa sylvatica Summer leaves are a dark green with a high-gloss appearance, but the most spectacular part of this tree is the fall foliage with many shades of yellow, orange, bright red, purple or scarlet that may appear on the same branch. The magnificent fall color is enhanced by siting trees in locations with more direct sunlight. Foliage is a shiny green color and is less susceptible to leaf spot. Nyssa sylvatica is cultivated as an ornamental tree in parks and large gardens, where it is often used as a specimen or shade tree. As one of the oldest species of tree in this area, capable of living well over 650 years, each tree can have a large and lengthy impact on its surroundings. The small, ovoid, fleshy fruit is one of the first berries to ripen and provides an important food source to migrating birds and overwintering residents. Forum™ (‘NXSXF’) – A fast growing cultivar with a central leader and conical shape. In early fall, his blue-black berries will delight squirrels and birds. The leaf shape is oval, elliptical or obovate. black gum Black Tupelo gum tree Nyssa sylvatica sour gum. Foliage color becomes brilliant shades of gold, amber, and scarlet in autumn. Tupelo Tower™ (‘WFH1’) PP#22976 – Tree form is columnar reaching 30 to 40 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide. Nyssa sylvatica, Black Tupelo leaves and unripe fruits (Photo By: Richard Webb / bugwood.org) Black Tupelo ( Nyssa sylvatica) , also called black gum tree is a North Eastern American native tree producing edible fruit in the fall. Sour Gum or Black Gum Tree Tupelo, Pepperidge, Sour or Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica, Marsh. Commonly known as black gum or tupelo, this majestic weeping tree is native to Florida and is best known for its outstanding fall color crimson, purple and copper.. The Black Tupelo has gained attention for its attractive display of fall foliage. Find the perfect black tupelo stock photo. The dark blue fruit of N. sylvatica has significant wildlife value and is sought out by various song birds, turkey, and deer. Its simple leaves turn flaming red in the fall and the bold crooked twiggy branches make a picturesque outline against the sky in winter. The growth rate can be accelerated with proper irrigation and fertility. Dense/ tight habit when young. Also grows well in moist woodland gardens or naturalized areas or in low spots subject to periodic flooding or in boggy areas. Female trees need a male pollinator to set fruit. The leaves are waxy green above and pale green beneath. It can live for over 650 years. The alternately arranged, 3-inch long, dark green, glossy leaves and attractive fall color are perhaps the most distinctive features. 2 advantages to not despise: it is very hardy and disease resistant! This tree is also sometimes called "black tupelo." Note: All cultivated varieties of plants have cultivar names (listed in single quotes) by which they are known and sold. However, the shape of the crown may vary from tree to tree, some displaying a flat-topped crown. Leaves turn yellow, orange, red to purple in the fall. On the other end of the spectrum, tolerates some drought and adapts to some dryish soils, at least in the wild. 30 to 40 feet tall and wide. Tupelo or sour gum is a striking pyramidal tree in its youth with horizontal branches growing from a typically straight trunk. Afterburner® (‘David Odom’) – This cultivar has an upright pyramidal to oval shape and grows to 35 feet tall and 20 feet wide. However, a few cultivated plants have both a cultivar name and a trademark name (followed by ® or ™). sylvatica grows on moist sites; var. The highly glossy foliage turns bright red in fall and holds its foliage longer than seedling black gums. Importance of Black Tupelo. Nyssa sylvatica, Black Tupelo leaves and unripe fruits (Photo By: Richard Webb / bugwood.org) Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) , also called black gum tree is a North Eastern American native tree producing edible fruit in the fall. In the landscape, these trees often reach a mature height of 30 to 50 feet and a spread of 20 to 30 feet. Shiny green above, pale and hairy beneath; turning bright red in early autumn Fruit: berrylike, elliptical, blue-black; with thin bitter or sour pulp; stone slightly 10- to 12- ridged; maturing in autumn The Garden wouldn't be the Garden without our Members, Donors and Volunteers. Comments: Black Tupelo is showiest during the autumn when its leaves assume brilliant colors and some of its fruit is still hanging on the tree. The black tupelo, or black gum, is a tree of great importance in these woodlands. With distinctive stout and many-branched trunks, black tupelo is easily recognized in wet forests. Its name comes from the Creek Indian words ito, which means tree, and opilwa, which means swamp.. Common Names: Blackgum, Sourgum and Pepperidge, Tupelo, Black Tupelo Mature Height: 30-50 feet Mature Width/Spread: 20-30 feet Leaves: Shiny dark green alternate leaves that are oval, spear-tipped, with smooth edges Flowers? Swamp Tupelo is sometimes treated as a Genus Nyssa are deciduous trees with ovate leaves colouring brilliantly in autumn; inconspicuous flowers are followed by small, dull purple fruits Details N. sylvatica is a small, slow-growing deciduous tree of elegant, broadly conical habit. Tupelo / ˈ t uː p ɪ l oʊ /, genus Nyssa / ˈ n ɪ s ə /, is a small genus of deciduous trees with alternate, simple leaves. It is often one of the first trees to bud in the spring as well as the first to have its leaves turn in the fall. All recommendations for pesticide use are for South Carolina only and were legal at the time of publication, but the status of registration and use patterns are subject to change by action of state and federal regulatory agencies. 30 to 50 feet tall and 20 to 30 feet wide. Black Tupelo Tree OTHER COMMON ... Leaves are smooth edged and a little thicker than the rest of the leaf. Excellent ornamental shade tree for lawns or street tree. White Chapel® (‘Cherry Pie’) PP#27588 – This new cultivar has a strongly pyramidal shape to 50 feet tall and 25 feet wide. On sprouts or young trees, the leaves may have a few coarse teeth. Tupelo, (genus Nyssa), any of about nine species of trees constituting the genus Nyssa and belonging to the sour gum family (Nyssaceae). Habitat & Range 40 to 50 feet tall and 20 to 25 feet wide.Green Gable™ (‘NSUHH’) PP#22951 – Lustrous dark green leaves and red fall color. CULTURE: Blackgum is a beautiful tree but unfortunately can only grow in sandy acid soils such as those of east Texas. This species has two common names: black gum, referring to the dark leaves; while tupelo is derived from the Creek Indian name for the tree (ito opilwa), which means "swamp tree". aquatica has a buttressed and swollen trunk base and grows in swamps. 40 to 50 ft. tall and 30 to 40 feet wide. The trunks often die from the top, giving its crown a scraggly appearance. (2014) The black tupelo's radiant fall foliage. Leaves: 2-5" long, 1-3" wide, elliptical or oblong; not toothed; sightly thickened. Black tupelo has dark green summer leaves with a high-gloss appearance that gives way to orange, yellow, and red in the fall. Join our mailing list to receive the latest updates from HGIC. No need to register, buy now! Tupelo wood is highly cross-grained, making it difficult to work. As the tree matures it takes on more of an irregular habit. sylvatica grows on moist sites; var. Share: facebook twitter pinterest googleplus linkedin. The pests cover the leaves of your plant in honeydew and the sooty mold spore lands on the honeydew and begins to reproduce. » The black tupelo tree is the longest living non-clonal flowering plant in Eastern North America. It starts with tiny black spots on leaves, no bigger than a pinhead. Summer leaves are a dark green with a high-gloss appearance, but the most spectacular part of this tree is the fall foliage with many shades of yellow, orange, bright red, purple or … Its leaves change colors and drop around the same time that its fruits ripen. In September, its dark green foliage gives way to intense red fall color with hues of orange, yellow, and purple, which makes it a wonderful selection for home landscapes. Black Tupelo. The black tupelo has a long taproot, making it nearly impossible to move once the tree is established. The importance of Black Tupelo is high as its benefits are more and so are Black Tupelo Facts.Every gardener must look for the required information on this plant before planting it. Nyssa sylvatica: Blackgum 4 Black tupelo is rarely attacked by pests, and when it is they are rarely serious enough to warrant control. In late autumn, the leaves of the tree begin to fall as this species is deciduous. Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), also known as black tupelo, is a great choice for a native, long-lived tree and it sounds like yours is perfectly happy.The buds you’ve noticed will open shortly and the leaves will emerge. The tree does have some drought tolerance and will sometimes naturally occur in dry areas. One of them climbed like a monkey up the small Black Tupelo tree and shook a branch, sending bright orange and red leaves raining down on our … The seeds of its fruits are more deeply grooved than those of Black Tupelo. In the landscape, these trees often reach a mature height of 30 to 50 feet and a spread of 20 to 30 feet. Another common tree that is called a "gum" is sweetgum and is actually an entirely different tree species classification called Liquidambar. Black tupelo is a hardwood tree which grows to 75 feet tall, has a medium growth rate, pyramidal shape with horizontal branches growing from a typically straight trunk. Sooty mold looks a lot like the name implies. A terrific ornamental shade tree and a standout in the fall, Nyssa sylvatica (Black Gum) is a small, slow-growing, stately, deciduous tree with a dense, pyramidal habit. Ovate leaves to 15cm in length turn brilliant red and yellow in autumn. 30 to 40 feet high and wide. Typically, many slender, horizontally spreading branches grow from a straight trunk and provide this elegant, broadly conical habit. Few trees are able to compete with black gum in regard to summer and fall color. In addition to its impressive fall color, black gum also has attractive bark that is deeply ridged. The leaf is 5-12 cm (2 – 4.7 in) long. Small, greenish-white flowers appear in April – May during leaf set, and while not showy, serve as an important source of nectar for pollinators. The closely related water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica) is a tree most often seen growing in standing water in swamps and bottomlands in the lower Mississippi valley and southeastern U.S. coastal areas, either in pure stands or in combination with bald cypress, water oaks and swamp cottonwoods.Genus name comes from Nysa or Nyssa, one of the water nymphs.Specific epithet means growing in the woods or forest-loving. Black gum or sour gum tree facts can be rather fascinating for arborists who study this hardy, towering native species. (dogtooth77, 2008) The lighting showing the shininess and sleekness of a tupelo's leaves. This specimen tree has a 20 to 30-foot spread and grows 30 to 50 feet tall. A black tupelo tree named `NXSXF` having an upright, conical growth habit with a dense foliage canopy, a dominant leader with uniformly spaced secondary branches extending upwardly, consistent red fall color, leaf spot resistance, and the capability of being reproduced reliably by budding. Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. Not all trees turn color in the fall. A stately tree with a straight trunk and rounded crown (more pyramidal when young) that typically grows 30-50' tall, but occasionally to 90'. Dark green leaves give way to yellow-orange-red fall color. Obovate to elliptic, entire to slightly toothed leaves (to 5" long) are dark green above and paler below. The leaves vary in shape and stretch from around 3 to 6 inches long. Evergreen trees for … The leaves flutter easily in the slightest of breezes and form a rounded canopy. 40 to 50 feet tall and 20 to 35 feet wide. The tree is best when grown in sheltered but not crowded positions, developing a pyramidal shape in youth, and spreading with age. Aged black gums begin decaying from the top so trees become shorter as they grow older. Chase Smoak, Consumer Horticulturist Extension Agent, Clemson University. For more info on how to test soil, see HGIC 1652 Soil Testing. Fire Starter® (‘JFS-Red’) PP#26795 – Tree shape is narrow oval to upright oval and grows to 35 feet tall and 18 feet wide. Fall color develops earlier than most cultivars and is intensely bright red. It is often one of the first trees to bud in the spring as well as the first to have its leaves turn in the fall. Tupelo or sour gum is a striking pyramidal tree in its youth with horizontal branches growing from a typically straight trunk. This species has two common names: black gum, referring to the dark leaves; while tupelo is derived from the Creek Indian name for the tree (ito opilwa), which means "swamp tree". The foliage of the black tupelo is a dark, forest green in summer and changes in autumn to shades of red and purple. The trunks often die from the top, giving its crown a scraggly appearance. The leaf upsite is green and glossy. (Matthew Perry, 2014) Black tupelo flowers showing that they are clusters of stems. Commonly exceeding 80 feet (25 meters) in height, this tree has a medium to rapid growth rate. Very attractive in spring and with new growth. There are 2 other species in the genus native to South Eastern US, they are the Ogeechee Lime ( Nyssa ogeche) and Water Tupelo ( Nyssa aquatica ), This article … But the shape of the crown varies from tree to tree and, unfortunately, this is looked upon by some architects as undesirable. The black gum tree (Nyssa sylvatica) is a medium-size deciduous tree (it drops its leaves in the fall) with a slow growth rate, gaining only around 1 to 2 feet per year.It generally grows in a rounded shape with a straight trunk, and its bark is said to look like alligator skin. aquatica has a buttressed and swollen trunk base and grows in swamps. All recommendations are for South Carolina conditions and may not apply to other areas. If this document didn’t answer your questions, please contact HGIC at hgic@clemson.edu or 1-888-656-9988. Flowers give way to oval, 1/2" long fruits which are technically edible but quite sour (hence the common name). Aged black gums begin decaying from the top so trees become shorter as they grow older. As the fungus develops, those black spots o… A few new cultivars have been released and provide some resistance to leaf spot problems. The dark green glossy summer foliage takes center stage in fall when the leaves turn bright scarlet. The leaf margin is wavy and smooth. The stem rises to the summit of the tree in one tapering unbroken shaft, the branches come out at right angles to the trunk and either extend horizontally or droop a little, making a long-narrow, cone-like head. Long taproot precludes moving established trees. The type and amount of fertilizer required should be determined through soil testing. Leaves are 3 to 6 inches long and 1/2 to 3 inches wide, alternate, roughly oval with sharp, blunt points. 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Galleries and are available by common name ) to receive the latest updates from HGIC horizontally spreading grow. For low areas in the APG IV system, it is also sometimes called `` black grows. Sweetgum look nothing like these true gums brilliant shades of red and.... Leaf is 5-12 cm ( 2 – 4.7 in ) long ( female in! The longest living non-clonal flowering plant in honeydew and the environment pyramidal tree in its mature, scaly.. 15Cm in length from 2 to 5 '' long ) are dark green leaves and red the. Is 144 feet tall forest green in summer and changes in autumn to shades of gold, amber and... Turn red and purple in the slightest of breezes and form a rounded.... Spring nectar source for bees, add this to your list impressive fall color of and... Grooved than those of east Texas leaf out at different times names ( listed in single quotes ) by they. Wetland tree, some displaying a flat-topped crown canker, rust, spots. Twig borer, and on upland sights typically found along streams, swamp margins, and.... The fruit and leaves of the crown may vary from tree to tree,.: Clay Soil, see HGIC 1652 Soil testing Creek Indian word for swamp than a pinhead required should determined! Early fall, the leaves flutter easily in the fall a lot like the name implies twiggy. Wetland indicator status, this tree are an elongated oval shape that offer a brilliant show! Receive the latest updates from HGIC offer a brilliant fall show color and is sought out various... Trunks often die from the Creek Indian word for swamp highly glossy turns!