Life Span
Perennial
Biennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
South-Eastern Asia, Southeastern Asia, China
Types
Nyssa sylvatica
Purple Orchid Tree, White Orchid Tree, Bidi leaf tree
Number of Varieties
520
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
Forests, Mountain Slopes, Valley
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-99-13
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, 9, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Habit
Pyramidal
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,828.80 cm760.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm17.80 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green
Light Pink, Magenta, Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Dark Blue, Black
Green, Sandy Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblovate
Butterfly shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Fall
Spring, Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer
Early Spring, Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Budding, Grafting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water Deeply
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
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
Remove 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
Apply N-P-K
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
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
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds
Allergy
Mild Allergen, Pollen
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland, Water gardening
-
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, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Carminative, Laxative
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Buds, Flowers, Leaves, Root, Seeds, Stem
Other Uses
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Fibre, Gum, Used as a dye
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
NYSSA sylvatica
BAUHINIA purpurea
Common Name
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
Butterfly Tree, Orchid Tree
In Hindi
Black Tupelo Tree
Butterfly tree
In German
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
Schmetterlings- Baum
In French
Noir Arbre Tupelo
arbre de papillon
In Spanish
Árbol negro Tupelo
árbol de la mariposa
In Greek
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
δέντρο πεταλούδα
In Portuguese
Árvore Tupelo Preto
árvore borboleta
In Polish
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
drzewo Butterfly
In Latin
Niger Tupelo ligno
Gloria ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cornales
Fabales
Family
Nyssaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Nyssa
Bauhinia
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Bombini
Cercideae
Subfamily
Nyssoideae
Caesalpinioideae
Number of Species
45500
1
27800
👆🏻