Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Perennial
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Japan
Types
Nyssa sylvatica
Ophiopogon japonicus, Ophiopogon planiscapus
Number of Varieties
550
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
Damp shady woods, foothill woods, Lowland
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-96-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-7
12-1
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
H1, H2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Pyramidal
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,828.80 cm10.20 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm2.30 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green
White, Lavender
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Dark Blue, Black
Indigo, Dark Blue, Black
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
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblovate
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Root Division
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
Regular watering during dry periods
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
Soil Drainage Capacity
Poorly Drained
Well drained
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 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
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Asthma
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland, Water gardening
Borders
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
Antipyretic, Antiscrophulatic, Antitussive, Aphrodisiac
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Root
Other Uses
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
useful as a ground cover
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Container, Edging, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
Botanical Name
NYSSA sylvatica
OPHIOPOGON japonicus
Common Name
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
Mondo grass, lily turf, snakebeard
In Hindi
Black Tupelo Tree
Mondo Grass
In German
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
Mondo Grass
In French
Noir Arbre Tupelo
Mondo Grass
In Spanish
Árbol negro Tupelo
Ophiopogon planiscapus
In Greek
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
Mondo Grass
In Portuguese
Árvore Tupelo Preto
Mondo Grass
In Polish
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
Mondo Grass
In Latin
Niger Tupelo ligno
Mondo Grass
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Embryophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Cornales
Liliales
Family
Nyssaceae
Liliaceae
Genus
Nyssa
Ophiopogon
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Bombini
-
Subfamily
Nyssoideae
-
Number of Species
4550
1
27800
👆🏻