The pulp of its fruit is technically edible, extremely sour and extremely bitter, which is why it is usually used in sweetened preserves. The common name of this wetland tree, tupelo, comes from the Creek Indian word for swamp. 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 trunks often die from the top, giving its crown a scraggly appearance. This tree typically grows to a height of 60 feet (18 metres) and occasionally attains a height of 100 feet (30 metres). 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. FUN TREE FACT: Black tupelo is a honey plant. Min. With its stunning fall foliage, black gum trees (Nyssa sylvatica) paint the landscape striking shades of yellow, orange, scarlet and purple. 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. But which one is it? Mike Hayman spotted this selection on Indiana Hwy 37 on his way to Tell City, IN. The specific epithet, sylvatica, means "of the woods." When combined with the several other tupelo species, these trees have the distinction of being favorites with honey producers. Common Uses: Carving, furniture, crates/boxes, and utility wood. Top of Page 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.. The Wildfire Black Gum or Tupelo tree is a personal favorite shade tree. The tree’s roots spread out on all sides of the tree, and they produce sprouts that can turn into new trees. Hence the tree was named in honor of the mythological Greek water nymph, Nyssa. Tupelo Tree: Facts, Info on Tupelo Trees. The word “Nyssa” refers to a water nymph in Greek, whereas “tupelo” is of an American origin. Mature Spread: 20 feet. 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. Often crowded toward the tips of branches. Tupelo or nyssa is a small genus consisting of 9 – 11 species. biflora ). 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. In the APG IV system, it is placed in Nyssaceae.. 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". Male flowers are produced in small umbels on slender peduncles about ½-1" long. Leaves:Glossy green leaves turn brilliant shades of red in fall. Here is some general information on tupelo trees. Comments: The name tupelo is of Native American origin, coming from the Muskogee words ito (tree) and opilwa (swamp). In summer they are shiny dark green above and downy below. 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. Which name is it exactly? 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. It foliage is oval, not unlike beech, changing from green to a fiery red/purple in autumn. He saw it in a fence row, … In the western Panhandle, one is most likely to see a swamp tupelo/swamp blackgum ( Nyssa sylvatica var. Black Tupelo is polygamo-dioecious, producing male and either female or perfect flowers on separate trees. The leaves flutter easily in the slightest of breezes and form a rounded canopy. The juicy fruit is eaten by many mammals and birds. Mature Height: 35-45 feet. That's why I have one shading the southwest side of my home from the sun. They usually have a 1.5-foot to 3-foot (45 cm. Young trees are pyramidal; older trees more oval. Potential Problems: No major problems, but some susceptibility to leaf spots, canker, rust, leaf miner, and scale. Black gum or sour gum tree facts can be rather fascinating for arborists who study this hardy, towering native species. 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. Nyssa sylvatica 's genus name, Nyssa, refers to a Greek water nymph; the species epithet sylvatica refers to its woodland habitat.. It really depends on where you’re from. The black tupelo has a long taproot, making it nearly impossible to move once the tree is established. Treefinder can help you identify the perfect tree for your next project! Habitat & Range 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. Names. wide, straight trunk, although you may occasionally see a split trunk. Blackgum is generally found with other hardwood species such as black cherry, dogwood, eastern hophornbeam, and yaupon. Leaves are alternate, simple, oval-elliptical, and lack teeth. Many people like to call it sourgum as a counterpart to another tree species… These nativars are hardy, easy to care for, maintain a consistent shape and provide stunning multi … Plant at least 15ft away from buildings in any location where its fall beauty can be admired. Tree does best in average, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. 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. 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. It is sometimes included in the subfamily Nyssoideae of the dogwood family, Cornaceae, but is placed by other authorities in the family Nyssaceae. Female trees need a male pollinator to set fruit. Location: Look for this tree in moist soils of valleys and uplands in hardwood and pine forests. Tupelo is a favored wood for wildfowl carvings. Where to Plant: Great tree for a narrow space in your yard or in a planting strip with no overhead power lines. Trunk diameter is typically 1 to 2 feet, but can reach 4 to 5 feet in taller specimens. The lumber goes mostly into shipping containers and parts of furniture. The binomial name of black tupelo is Nyssa sylvatica. With distinctive stout and many-branched trunks, black tupelo is easily recognized in wet forests. But really, what's not to love? Like many trees, the Black Tupelo, also called the Black Gum tree and the Sour Gum, barely makes it into the edible realm. to 90 cm.) Black gum is a tall tree with horizontal branches and a flat-topped crown. 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. What it needs: Afterburner® Black Tupelo is adaptable to urban conditions including compacted, poorly drained soils and even occasional drought. This tree is also sometimes called "black tupelo." Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) , also called black gum tree is a North Eastern American native tree producing edible fruit in the fall. 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. The tupelo, or pepperidge tree, genus Nyssa, is a small genus of about 9 to 11 species of trees with alternate, simple leaves. Black tupelo (two-puh-low), sourgum, Pepperidge, tupelogum, black gum…these are all names for the Nyssa Sylvatica. The name of the tree “Tupelo” comes from the Muscogee language, as a combination of the words “ito” (tree) and “opilwa” (swamp). It comes from the Creek words ito ‘tree’ and opilwa ‘swamp’. Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices or on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The leaves of the black gum tree are an elongated oval shape that offer a brilliant fall show. )-A medium-sized tree of variable shape, 50 to 100 feet high, with short, rigid, twiggy, horizontal branches. One of those is the Black Tupelo that graces the center of the Rambl e. Tupelo, Pepperidge, Sour or Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica, Marsh. 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. Fruit: 3/8" blue-black drupe. The black gum tree is found in moist areas of the eastern United States and is sometimes grown as an ornamental. Still others call it beetlebung, stinkwood, wild peartree or pepperidge. Black Tupelo (Center of the Ramble) Of the 18,000 trees in Central Park, only 150 date back to its creation in 1857. 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