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
Not Available
  
Purple Orchid Tree, White Orchid Tree, Bidi leaf tree
  
Habitat
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
  
Forests, Mountain Slopes, Valley
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-9
  
9-13
  
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 cm
  
23
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
Not Available
  
Green, Gray Green, Yellow green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oblovate
  
Butterfly shaped
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
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
No
  
No
  
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
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
Yes
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
Sometimes
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds
  
Birds
  
Allergy
Mild Allergen, Pollen
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland, Water gardening
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
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
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
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
Not Available