Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
Nyssa sylvatica
Guaiacum officinale
Number of Varieties
53
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
Coastal Regions, Dry and Young forest Heaths, Thickets, Woodlands
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
Habit
Pyramidal
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,828.80 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Dark Blue, Black
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblovate
Egg-shaped
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Consistently
In Spring
Moderate
Average Water
In Winter
Average Water
Moderate
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
Prune to stimulate growth
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
Fertilize three times a year
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
fungus, Mealybugs, Scale, Spider mites
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought, Salt
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Skin irritation
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
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Bark, Sap
Other Uses
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
used for making roof trusses, poles, joists, piles, Used in construction, Used in Furniture
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
NYSSA sylvatica
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
Black Tupelo Tree
Lignum Vitae
In German
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
Lignum Vitae
In French
Noir Arbre Tupelo
Lignum Vitae
In Spanish
Árbol negro Tupelo
Palo santo
In Greek
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
Lignum Vitae
In Portuguese
Árvore Tupelo Preto
pau-santo
In Polish
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
Lignum Vitae
In Latin
Niger Tupelo ligno
lignum Vitae
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cornales
Sapindales
Family
Nyssaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Nyssa
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
-
Tribe
Bombini
-
Subfamily
Nyssoideae
-
Number of Species
453
1
27800
👆🏻