Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
India, Nepal, China, Japan, Korea
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Types
Cornus controversa
Nyssa sylvatica
Number of Varieties
15
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Woodland Garden Canopy
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-85-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
8-1
9-7
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Upright/Erect
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,070.00 cm1,828.80 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
610.00 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Ivory
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Burgundy, Dark Blue, Black
Dark Blue, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Light Yellow, Burgundy, Dark Red
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Ovate
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering during dry weather
Average Water Needs, Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
-
Prune in early spring, Prune in late winter, Prune when plant is dormant, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
No fertilizers needed
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
Pests and Diseases
Bacterial leaf spot, Canker, Powdery mildew
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds
Allergy
-
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland
Used in parkland, Water gardening
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiphlogistic
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Leaves
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Oil used in the lubricating and soap industry
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Shade Trees, Street Trees
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
CORNUS controversa
NYSSA sylvatica
Common Name
Giant Dogwood, Wedding Cake Tree
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
In Hindi
Wedding Cake Tree
Black Tupelo Tree
In German
Hochzeitstorte Baum
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
In French
Gâteau de mariage Arbre
Noir Arbre Tupelo
In Spanish
Pastel de bodas del árbol
Árbol negro Tupelo
In Greek
Γαμήλια τούρτα Δέντρο
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
In Portuguese
Árvore do bolo de casamento
Árvore Tupelo Preto
In Polish
Wedding Cake Drzewo
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
In Latin
MUSTACEUM ligno
Niger Tupelo ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cornales
Cornales
Family
Cornaceae
Nyssaceae
Genus
Cornus
Nyssa
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Bombini
Subfamily
Cornoideae
Nyssoideae
Number of Species
345
1
27800
👆🏻