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Nyssa sylvatica

Nyssa sylvatica

Tupelo, Black gum, Pepperidge

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Description

Nyssa sylvatica (Tupelo, Black Gum) originated in south-eastern Canada and in the east of the United States. The species grows in the dryer parts of swamps, along rivers and in the better drained forests at higher altitudes, along with other species including Ostrya virginiana, Cornus florida and Carya ovata. Nyssa sylvatica was introduced in England by the American dendrologist Humphrey Marshall in 1759. The tree grows to be around 25 metres tall and between 8 - 12 metres wide. The tupelo makes a good, continuous bough, with long hanging twigs and a semi-open, pyramid-shaped to wide egg-shaped crown.

Nyssa sylvatica is mainly known for its spectacular autumn colours. Depending on the type of soil, the leaves turn beautiful differing shades of red, orange-red and yellow. On top of its unique autumn colours, the dark grey, furrowed bark that peels of in chunks when it gets older and its glossy, bright green leaves are striking. The leaves bud bronze in the spring. In May, Nyssa sylvatica blooms discrete, yellow-green racemes that are popular among bees and other insects, which make the famous tupelo honey in the US. In late September, small, striking, blue-black berries appear on the tree. 

Nyssa sylvatica is a beautiful tree for central reservations, gardens, avenues and cemeteries. With the beautiful, furrowed texture of its bark and the tree’s appearance at eye level, the multi-stem varieties make a great asset to any park or garden. Nyssa sylvatica tolerates practically all types of soil and can tolerate a high groundwater level. Though the strong tree prefers moist to wet soil, it can also handle quite heavy drought, making the species very suitable for use in wadi. The tupelo is also a real powerhouse in urban climates: the tree can handle high temperatures and heavy frost. Nyssa sylvatica does not suffer from branches breaking and it is not susceptible to plagues or diseases.

Types of planting

Tree types

standard trees feathered trees multi-stemmed trees climate trees shade trees characteristic trees solitary shrubs

Topiary on stem

fval multi-stem umbrella

Use

Location

park central reservation roof garden large garden cemetery traffic areas, industrial zones bioswale

Pavement

none none

Planting concepts

climate planting eco planting solid planting prairie planting

Characteristics

Crown shape

wide egg-shaped wide egg-shaped wide pyramidal wide pyramidal

Crown structure

semi-open semi-open

Height

15 - 25 m

Width

8 - 12 m

Winter hardiness zone

5A - 9B

Aspects

Wind

slightly tolerant to wind

Soil

loess sabulous clay peaty heavy clay light clay sand loamy soil all soils

Nutrient level

low in nutrients moderately rich in nutrients rich in nutrients

Soil moisture level

moist wet

Light requirements

sun partial shade

pH range

acidic neutral
5.0 - 7.4

Host plant/forage plant

bees birds

Extreme environments

tolerant to short-term flooding

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Visit our nurseries with multi-stem trees, climbing trees, trees for avenues and parks characteristic trees and solitary shrubs.

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Order this plant? Or would you like further information about Nyssa sylvatica? Make an appointment for a detailed planting recommendation.
Call +31(0) 485 31 20 21 or email one of our advisors directly.
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Photos

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high-stem standard tree
Nyssa sylvatica standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Nyssa sylvatica standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Nyssa sylvatica standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Nyssa sylvatica standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Nyssa sylvatica standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Nyssa sylvatica standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Nyssa sylvatica standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Nyssa sylvatica standard tree
high-stem standard tree
Nyssa sylvatica standard tree
feathered feathered
Nyssa sylvatica feathered
feathered feathered
Nyssa sylvatica feathered
feathered feathered
Nyssa sylvatica feathered
feathered feathered
Nyssa sylvatica feathered
feathered feathered
Nyssa sylvatica feathered
feathered feathered
Nyssa sylvatica feathered
feathered feathered
Nyssa sylvatica feathered
multi-stem multi-stem
Nyssa sylvatica multi-stem
multi-stem multi-stem
Nyssa sylvatica multi-stem
multi-stem multi-stem
Nyssa sylvatica multi-stem
multi-stem multi-stem
Nyssa sylvatica multi-stem
multi-stem multi-stem
Nyssa sylvatica multi-stem
characteristic characteristic
Nyssa sylvatica characteristic
leaves leaves
Nyssa sylvatica leaves
leaves leaves
Nyssa sylvatica leaves
leaves leaves
Nyssa sylvatica leaves
fruits fruits
Nyssa sylvatica fruits
fruits fruits
Nyssa sylvatica fruits
fruits fruits
Nyssa sylvatica fruits
fruits fruits
Nyssa sylvatica fruits
autumn-leaves autumn leaves
Nyssa sylvatica autumn leaves
autumn-leaves autumn leaves
Nyssa sylvatica autumn leaves
autumn-leaves autumn leaves
Nyssa sylvatica autumn leaves
bark bark
Nyssa sylvatica bark
bark bark
Nyssa sylvatica bark
twigs twigs
Nyssa sylvatica twigs

Seasonal colours

Nyssa sylvatica seizoenskleur
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Flowers

Flowers

corymbose discrete

Flower colour

yellow-green

Flowering period

April - May

Leaves

Leaf colour

buds bronze green

Leaves

deciduous obovate polished

Autumn colour

orange red

Fruits

Fruit colour

blue-black

Fruits

striking berry drupe

Bark

Bark colour

grey-black

Bark

peeling furrowed

Twigs

Twig colour

grey-brown

Twigs

bare with lenticels

Root system

Root system

deep tap root root suckers

For and by green professionals

The TreeEbb is a platform for and by green professionals, in which we collect knowledge and experience from the sector and make this available for users. All the details and photos are free to use for non-commercial purposes. Want to share your tree knowledge? Send photographs and additional information to treeebb@ebben.nl

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Soil
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Winter hardiness

A plant's winter hardiness is the coldest area in which it is frost-resistant. This is based on the average annual minimum temperature. Winter hardiness zones are thirteen different frost zones in steps of 5.5 degrees Celsius. This format is an international standard for the hardiness of plants. The zones in which the plant is frost-resistant are always included in the description of trees and other vegetation.

Winter hardiness is a genetic characteristic and is not influenced by the location in which the plant is cultivated. This means that a plant that has been cultivated for many years in winter-hardiness zone 6 but has a winter hardiness of 3 is perfectly suited for replanting in a colder zone. It will thrive there thanks to its genetic characteristics.

When choosing planting for a project, the winter hardiness of the plants is extremely important. By choosing species that match the zone in which the project is being created, it is possible to ensure that plants can withstand the minimum temperature in that area.

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