Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Herbs
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Europe, Middle Africa, Southern Africa, Southern Asia, Southeastern Asia
Types
Nyssa sylvatica
Basil, African blue basil
Number of Varieties
560
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
-
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-99-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-7
11-1
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Pyramidal
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,828.80 cm15.20 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm15.20 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green
Burgandy, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Dark Blue, Black
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
Green, Purple, Bronze
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Purple, Bronze
Leaf Color in Fall
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Green, Purple, Bronze
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblovate
Oval
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Fall
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Neutral
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
Requires watering in the growing season, Water Deeply
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic
Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun
Pruning
Prune in early spring, Prune in late winter, Prune when plant is dormant, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Don't prune in the fall, Prune regularly
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
-
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
-
Allergy
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Respiratory problems, Runny nose, Skin rash, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland, Water gardening
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
Cough, Cramps, Digestive disorders, Insomnia, Skin Disorders, Vomiting
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Leaves
Other Uses
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Air freshner, Can be made into a herbal tea, Used As Food, Used as a spice
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Container, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
NYSSA sylvatica
Ocimum tenuiflorum
Common Name
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
Basil
In Hindi
Black Tupelo Tree
तुलसी
In German
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
Basilikum
In French
Noir Arbre Tupelo
basilic
In Spanish
Árbol negro Tupelo
albahaca
In Greek
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
βασιλικός
In Portuguese
Árvore Tupelo Preto
manjericão
In Polish
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
bazylia
In Latin
Niger Tupelo ligno
ocimum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cornales
Lamiales
Family
Nyssaceae
Lamiaceae
Genus
Nyssa
Ocimum
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Asterids
Tribe
Bombini
-
Subfamily
Nyssoideae
-
Number of Species
4560
1
27800
👆🏻