Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tree
Origin
Southern Africa
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Types
Perennial
Nyssa sylvatica
Number of Varieties
505
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-105-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
9-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 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
Clump-Forming
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
61.30 cm1,828.80 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Dark Blue, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Average
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
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, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Poorly Drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Prune in early spring, Prune in late winter, Prune when plant is dormant, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
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
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
Skin irritation
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Used in parkland, Water gardening
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
Root
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
NYSSA sylvatica
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
In Hindi
African Iris
Black Tupelo Tree
In German
Afrikanische Iris
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
In French
African Iris
Noir Arbre Tupelo
In Spanish
Iris africano
Árbol negro Tupelo
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
In Portuguese
Iris africano
Árvore Tupelo Preto
In Polish
Afryki Iris
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
In Latin
African Iris
Niger Tupelo ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Cornales
Family
Iridaceae
Nyssaceae
Genus
Dietes
Nyssa
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Irideae
Bombini
Subfamily
Iridoideae
Nyssoideae
Number of Species
30045
1
27800
👆🏻