Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Fruit
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Southern Asia, India, Melanesia, Australia
Types
Nyssa sylvatica
Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis
Number of Varieties
51
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
Well Drained
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-99-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-7
12-9
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Pyramidal
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,828.80 cm370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm300.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green
White, Purple
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Dark Blue, Black
Yellow
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblovate
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer
Early Spring, Spring, Winter, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Budding, Cuttings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
Keep the Soil well drained, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Poorly Drained
Well 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
Prune in spring, Remove branches, Remove branches that rub together, Remove crossing or rubbing branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, fertilize in spring, fertilize in summer, organic fertlizers
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Asthma
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland, Water gardening
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Respiratory Disorders, Soothing and relieving pain
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Flowers, Fruits
Other Uses
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Making Perfumes, Traditional medicine, Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Shade Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
NYSSA sylvatica
CITRUS medica var. sarcodactylis
Common Name
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
Buddha's Hand, Fingered Citron
In Hindi
Black Tupelo Tree
Buddha's Hand
Tree
In German
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
Buddhas Hand
Baum
In French
Noir Arbre Tupelo
Main de Bouddha
Arbre
In Spanish
Árbol negro Tupelo
Mano de Buda
Árbol
In Greek
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
Χέρι του Βούδα
Δέντρο
In Portuguese
Árvore Tupelo Preto
Mão de Buda
Árvore
In Polish
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
Ręka Buddy
Drzewo
In Latin
Niger Tupelo ligno
Buddha manus
Arbor
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
-
Class
Magnoliopsida
-
Order
Cornales
Sapindales
Family
Nyssaceae
Rutaceae
Genus
Nyssa
Citrus
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Bombini
-
Subfamily
Nyssoideae
-
Number of Species
451
1
27800
👆🏻