Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
North America
Types
Nyssa sylvatica
Prunus virginiana
Number of Varieties
530
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
Moist Soils, open Woodlands, Pine barrens, Swamps
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-93-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-7
8-1
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
A1, A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 10, 16
Habit
Pyramidal
Thicket/Colonizing
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,828.80 cm460.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm550.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green
-
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Dark Blue, Black
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
-
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
-
Leaf Color in Fall
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
-
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblovate
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
Average
Bloom Time
Summer
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Grafting, Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires regular watering
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
Average
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
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 that rub together, Remove dead branches
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
-
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Bold
-
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Mild Allergen, Pollen
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland, Water gardening
Beautification, 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
Asthma, Bronchitis, Cough, Diarrhea, Dysentry, Fever, Stomach Ulcers
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Bark, Fruits
Other Uses
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Foundation, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees
Botanical Name
NYSSA sylvatica
PRUNUS virginiana
Common Name
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
Wild black cherry, Cherry bark
In Hindi
Black Tupelo Tree
Chokecherry
In German
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
Chokecherry
In French
Noir Arbre Tupelo
Chokecherry
In Spanish
Árbol negro Tupelo
Chokecherry
In Greek
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
Chokecherry
In Portuguese
Árvore Tupelo Preto
Chokecherry
In Polish
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
Chokecherry
In Latin
Niger Tupelo ligno
chokecherry
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cornales
Rosales
Family
Nyssaceae
Rosaceae
Genus
Nyssa
Prunus
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Bombini
Amygdaleae
Subfamily
Nyssoideae
Amygdaloideae
Number of Species
4525
1
27800
👆🏻