Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Tree
Shrub
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Southern Africa
Types
Nyssa sylvatica
Carissa bispinosa, Carissa carandas
Number of Varieties
520
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
Coastal Regions, Tropical regions
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
H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Pyramidal
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,828.80 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green
White
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Dark Blue, Black
Light Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblovate
Elliptic and Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Shade areas
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Vegetative Reproduction
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water, Requires regular watering, Water daily during growing season, Water when top layer of soil becomes dry
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
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 if you want to improve plant shape, Prune to control growth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
fertilize in growing season, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Insects, Red blotch, Scale, Spider mites, Thripes, Whiteflies
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Shade areas
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
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds
Allergy
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland, Water gardening
Beautification, Bonsai, Cottage Garden, Landscape Designing, 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, Food for insects, Prevent Soil Erosion
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Flowers, Fruits
Other Uses
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Edible, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Topiary, Bonsai, Espalier, Tropical
Botanical Name
NYSSA sylvatica
CARISSA macrocarpa
Common Name
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
Carissia
In Hindi
Black Tupelo Tree
Carissa
In German
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
carissa
In French
Noir Arbre Tupelo
carissa
In Spanish
Árbol negro Tupelo
carissa
In Greek
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
carissa
In Portuguese
Árvore Tupelo Preto
carissa
In Polish
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
carissa
In Latin
Niger Tupelo ligno
carissa
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cornales
Gentianales
Family
Nyssaceae
Apocynaceae
Genus
Nyssa
Carissa
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Bombini
Carisseae
Subfamily
Nyssoideae
Rauvolfioideae
Number of Species
45100
1
27800
👆🏻