Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Southeastern United States, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Nyssa sylvatica
tourist tree, turpentine tree, chaca
Number of Varieties
51
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
Riverbanks, Sandy stream banks, Tropical rainforest
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-910-15
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-7
12-10
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
H1, H2, 13, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Pyramidal
Twisted/Contorted
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,828.80 cm460.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm760.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green
Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Dark Blue, Black
Crimson, Copper
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
-
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Dark Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblovate
Compound
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer
Summer, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
occasional watering once established
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic
Neutral, Alkaline
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
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
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
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, Deers, Hummingbirds
Allergy
Mild Allergen, Pollen
allergic reaction, Eye irritation, Mouth itching, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland, Water gardening
Bonsai
Beauty Benefits
-
Improve skin condition, Making cosmetics, Removes pimples
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, Forms dense stands, Nesting sites for birds, soil stabilisation
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Aging, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, Headache
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Bark, Leaves
Other Uses
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Application in Furniture, Can be made into a herbal tea, Cosmetics
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
BURSERA simaruba
Common Name
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
Gumbo Limbo, Tourist Tree, Turpentine Tree
In Hindi
Black Tupelo Tree
Bursera simaruba
In German
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
Bursera simaruba
In French
Noir Arbre Tupelo
Bursera simaruba
In Spanish
Árbol negro Tupelo
Bursera simaruba
In Greek
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
Bursera simaruba
In Portuguese
Árvore Tupelo Preto
Bursera simaruba
In Polish
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
Bursera simaruba
In Latin
Niger Tupelo ligno
Bursera simaruba
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Angiosperms
Class
Magnoliopsida
Eudicotyledones
Order
Cornales
Sapindales
Family
Nyssaceae
Burseraceae
Genus
Nyssa
Bursera
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Eudicots
Tribe
Bombini
-
Subfamily
Nyssoideae
-
Number of Species
4510
1
27800
👆🏻