Nyssa spp.
tupelos
Eastern North America and eastern Asia
Overview
Nyssa spp., the tupelos, is a genus of about nine to twelve deciduous trees in the family Nyssaceae, native to eastern North America, Central America, and eastern and south-eastern Asia. Most reach 10-30 m (33-100 ft) tall with a straight trunk and a pyramidal to rounded crown of glossy, oval leaves. The foliage turns deep red, scarlet, orange, and purple in autumn, often colouring early in the season. Small greenish-white flowers open in spring; they are a major nectar source, and the honey from N. ogeche is sold as tupelo honey. The flowers give way to blue-black, single-seeded fruits that birds take readily. Several species, including water tupelo (N. aquatica) and Ogeechee tupelo, grow in swamps and floodplains, developing swollen, buttressed bases in standing water, while black gum (N. sylvatica) also grows on dry upland sites. The trees are slow-growing and long-lived, with a deep taproot that makes them hard to transplant once established. Most species grow in moist, acidic soil, though black gum tolerates a wide range of conditions.
Native Range
Nyssa spp. is native to eastern North America, from southern Canada to the Gulf Coast, with additional species in Central America and in China and South-East Asia. Species grow in bottomland swamps, floodplains, and moist to dry upland forest.Suggested Uses
Nyssa spp. species are planted as shade and specimen trees for their autumn colour in parks, large gardens, and street and campus plantings, and the swamp species suit pond edges, rain gardens, and wet ground. The flowers feed bees and the fruit feeds birds and other wildlife. The trees give reliable autumn colour in moist, acidic settings.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height30' - 100'
Width/Spread20' - 50'
Bloom Information
Small greenish-white flowers open in spring as the leaves expand, usually April to May. They are small and green but heavily worked by bees for nectar. Fruit ripens to blue-black by early autumn.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
glossy green, turning red to scarlet in autumnGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Time to Maturity
20-30 years