Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
North America, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Canada
Types
Nyssa sylvatica
-
Number of Varieties
53
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
Dappled Shade, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Canopy
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-93-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-7
10-1
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Pyramidal
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,828.80 cm1,520.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green
Yellow green, Chartreuse
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Dark Blue, Black
Green, Indigo, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Yellow, Red, Orange, Yellow green, Bronze, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblovate
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Fast
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
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water
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
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
Nitrogen, Phosphorous
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Foliage diseases
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Insignificant
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
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Insects
Allergy
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Dermatitis, Diaphoresis
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland, Water gardening
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
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
Alterative, Anodyne, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Leaves
Other Uses
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used as a condiment, Used in making tea, Used to flavour soups
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
NYSSA sylvatica
SASSAFRAS albidum
Common Name
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
Sassafras
In Hindi
Black Tupelo Tree
Sassafras
In German
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
Sassafras
In French
Noir Arbre Tupelo
Sassafras
In Spanish
Árbol negro Tupelo
Sasafrás
In Greek
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
σασάφρα
In Portuguese
Árvore Tupelo Preto
sassafrás
In Polish
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
Sassafras
In Latin
Niger Tupelo ligno
Sassafras
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cornales
Laurales
Family
Nyssaceae
Lauraceae
Genus
Nyssa
Sassafras
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Magnoliids
Tribe
Bombini
Cinnamomeae
Subfamily
Nyssoideae
Lauroideae
Number of Species
454
1
27800
👆🏻