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. They usually have a 1.5-foot to 3-foot (45 cm. It really depends on where you’re from. Treefinder can help you identify the perfect tree for your next project! Individual male flowers are about 1/8" (3 mm.) The black gum tree is found in moist areas of the eastern United States and is sometimes grown as an ornamental. In the APG IV system, it is placed in Nyssaceae.. He saw it in a fence row, … The binomial name of black tupelo is Nyssa sylvatica. It comes from the Creek words ito ‘tree’ and opilwa ‘swamp’. to 90 cm.) Bark rough, dark grey, broken into many-sided plates; on younger trees, pale brown or grey; branches brown; twigs green to … A tree of many monikers, the black tupelo is also known in various areas as a gum tree, sour gum, bowl gum, yellow gum or tupelo gum. Leaves are alternate, simple, oval-elliptical, and lack teeth. biflora ). The word “Nyssa” refers to a water nymph in Greek, whereas “tupelo” is of an American origin. With distinctive stout and many-branched trunks, black tupelo is easily recognized in wet forests. Plant at least 15ft away from buildings in any location where its fall beauty can be admired. Tupelo, Pepperidge, Sour or Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica, Marsh. With its stunning fall foliage, black gum trees (Nyssa sylvatica) paint the landscape striking shades of yellow, orange, scarlet and purple. across, consisting of a shallow green calyx with barely discernible teeth, insignificant green petals, and 5-10 spreading stamens with long filaments. It is sometimes included in the subfamily Nyssoideae of the dogwood family, Cornaceae, but is placed by other authorities in the family Nyssaceae. FUN TREE FACT: Black tupelo is a honey plant. Common Uses: Carving, furniture, crates/boxes, and utility wood. Potential Problems: No major problems, but some susceptibility to leaf spots, canker, rust, leaf miner, and scale. The species' common name, tupelo, is of Native American origin, coming from the Creek words ito "tree" and opilwa "swamp"; it was in use by the mid-18th century.. Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), or black tupelo, is a medium to large growing deciduous tree native to USDA zones 4 to 9.Few trees are able to compete with black gum in regard to summer and fall color. With over 400 tree varieties for review, the Treefinder app enables you to conveniently browse and compile a list of trees suitable for a number of common landscaping uses - from attracting birds to creating a formal screen or hedge. Tupelo wood is highly cross-grained, making it difficult to work. Location: Look for this tree in moist soils of valleys and uplands in hardwood and pine forests. Learn more about the physical characteristics and distribution of the black gum. Black gum is a tall tree with horizontal branches and a flat-topped crown. This tree is also sometimes called "black tupelo." Female trees need a male pollinator to set fruit. 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 primarily focuses on Nyssa silvatica but many points could apply to either of the other species. Nyssa sylvatica - Tupelo / Black Gum Tree Nyssa sylvatica, also known as tupelo or the Black Gum Tree is a ornamental conical slow growing medium sized tree with horizontal branches. Tupelo is a favored wood for wildfowl carvings. These nativars are hardy, easy to care for, maintain a consistent shape and provide stunning multi … Tree Shape: Upright oval. Tupelo Tree: Facts, Info on Tupelo Trees. Still others call it beetlebung, stinkwood, wild peartree or pepperidge. The tupelo, or pepperidge tree, genus Nyssa, is a small genus of about 9 to 11 species of trees with alternate, simple leaves. But really, what's not to love? The black tupelo has a long taproot, making it nearly impossible to move once the tree is established. Which name is it exactly? One of those is the Black Tupelo that graces the center of the Rambl e. Tupelo fruit, high in crude fat, fi­ber, phosphorous and calcium, is an important wildlife food source, and because of its many cavities, black tupelo is an important den tree species. The tree’s roots spread out on all sides of the tree, and they produce sprouts that can turn into new trees. Nyssa sylvatica 's genus name, Nyssa, refers to a Greek water nymph; the species epithet sylvatica refers to its woodland habitat.. When combined with the several other tupelo species, these trees have the distinction of being favorites with honey producers. Many people like to call it sourgum as a counterpart to another tree species… street tree planting width: 6 feet. Use: Tupelo pulp is used for high-grade book and magazine papers. Black Tupelo is polygamo-dioecious, producing male and either female or perfect flowers on separate trees. The tree’s shiny, green, elliptical leaves vary from two to ­five inches in length and turn purple, then scarlet or yellow in autumn, making it a popular ornamental. The most common and familiar tupelo trees are the black gum tupelo trees (Nyssa sylvatica).These trees stand up to 80 feet (24 m.) tall at maturity. Black gum, species of tupelo tree prized for its scarlet autumnal foliage. 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. Mature Height: 35-45 feet. The common name of this wetland tree, tupelo, comes from the Creek Indian word for swamp. In summer they are shiny dark green above and downy below. Often crowded toward the tips of branches. The leaves of the black gum tree are an elongated oval shape that offer a brilliant fall show. It foliage is oval, not unlike beech, changing from green to a fiery red/purple in autumn. The lumber goes mostly into shipping containers and parts of furniture. Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Trunk diameter is typically 1 to 2 feet, but can reach 4 to 5 feet in taller specimens. 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". Black gum or sour gum tree facts can be rather fascinating for arborists who study this hardy, towering native species. Author David Posted on July 20, 2016 November 22, 2019 Categories native deciduous, Tree identification Tags aged blackgum tupelo trees begin decaying from the top, axe and electric chain saw not effective cutting black tupelo, birds love tupelo berries, black tupelo, blackgum tupelo identification, blackgum tupelo is also known as black tupelo or blackgum or sourgum or … Hence the tree was named in honor of the mythological Greek water nymph, Nyssa. Tupelo or nyssa is a small genus consisting of 9 – 11 species. If you like this unusual tree, you may want information on how to grow a swamp tupelo and that begins with finding an appropriate placement in your yard. The name of the tree “Tupelo” comes from the Muscogee language, as a combination of the words “ito” (tree) and “opilwa” (swamp). The trunks often die from the top, giving its crown a scraggly appearance. However, the often-unsung trees of the swamps are the tupelo and blackgum trees, including three species of Nyssa that go by a variety of overlapping common names. What it needs: Afterburner® Black Tupelo is adaptable to urban conditions including compacted, poorly drained soils and even occasional drought. The Wildfire Black Gum or Tupelo tree is a personal favorite shade tree. black tupelo, sourgum, sour gum Leaf Type: Deciduous Texas Native: Firewise: Tree Description: A large forest tree reaching a height of over 100 feet and a trunk that exceeds 3 feet in diameter, with a straight trunk and many horizontal branches of a similar size that form a narrow, oval crown. Leaves:Glossy green leaves turn brilliant shades of red in fall. The juicy fruit is eaten by many mammals and birds. Mike Hayman spotted this selection on Indiana Hwy 37 on his way to Tell City, IN. Names. The specific epithet, sylvatica, means "of the woods." )-A medium-sized tree of variable shape, 50 to 100 feet high, with short, rigid, twiggy, horizontal branches. In the western Panhandle, one is most likely to see a swamp tupelo/swamp blackgum ( Nyssa sylvatica var. It is also known by the name “beetlebung” on Marthas Vineyard, because it was historically used to make mallets that pound the cork (or “beetle”) into barrels before they were loaded onto ships. Blackgum or Black Tupelo is a native deciduous tree that grows throughout North Carolina and can reach 50 to 80 feet tall, but typically reaches 20 to 30 feet in cultivation. The leaves flutter easily in the slightest of breezes and form a rounded canopy. Min. Fruit: 3/8" blue-black drupe. Male flowers are produced in small umbels on slender peduncles about ½-1" long. Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) , also called black gum tree is a North Eastern American native tree producing edible fruit in the fall. Young trees are pyramidal; older trees more oval. Top of Page Habitat & Range That's why I have one shading the southwest side of my home from the sun. Here is some general information on tupelo trees. The pulp of its fruit is technically edible, extremely sour and extremely bitter, which is why it is usually used in sweetened preserves. Nyssa sylvatica, commonly known as black tupelo, tupelo, or black gum, is a medium-sized deciduous tree native to eastern North America from New England and southern Ontario south to central Florida and eastern Texas, as well as Mexico. 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. Afterburner® Black Tupelo is a medium-sized shade tree which can be used anywhere in the landscape. wide, straight trunk, although you may occasionally see a split trunk. Where to Plant: Great tree for a narrow space in your yard or in a planting strip with no overhead power lines. Mature Spread: 20 feet. Blackgum is generally found with other hardwood species such as black cherry, dogwood, eastern hophornbeam, and yaupon. But which one is it? Black tupelo gum trees were also once prolific in the area, and it is this tree that is noted for its dazzling red foliage in the fall. Black tupelo (two-puh-low), sourgum, Pepperidge, tupelogum, black gum…these are all names for the Nyssa Sylvatica. Like many trees, the Black Tupelo, also called the Black Gum tree and the Sour Gum, barely makes it into the edible realm. Its sibling, the Water Tupelo is likewise edible as is the Ogeechee Lime, another Tupelo. This tree typically grows to a height of 60 feet (18 metres) and occasionally attains a height of 100 feet (30 metres). Nyssa sylvatica ‘Haymansred’ Also known as black gum, this species of tupelo is a very useful plant trademarked (named) by J. 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