Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Grass
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Mexico, South-Central United States, Southeastern United States
Types
Nyssa sylvatica
Dallas Blues grass, Rotstrahlbush grass
Number of Varieties
512
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
Prairies, Roadsides, Warmer regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-94-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-7
12 - 3
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
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 cm60.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm30.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green
Pink
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Dark Blue, Black
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Green, Dark Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Tan, Brown
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
Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Divison, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
Water frequently while growing, Water more frequently during periods of extreme drought
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
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 when plant is dormant, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Aphids, Ladybug
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Ladybug beetles
Allergy
Mild Allergen, Pollen
-
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, Shelter for wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
-
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Whole plant
Other Uses
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Dried Flower / Everlasting, Container, Edging, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
NYSSA sylvatica
Panicum virgatum
Common Name
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
Shenandoah grass, switchgrass
In Hindi
Black Tupelo Tree
Shenandoah grass
In German
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
Shenandoah grass
In French
Noir Arbre Tupelo
Shenandoah grass
In Spanish
Árbol negro Tupelo
Shenandoah grass
In Greek
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
Shenandoah grass
In Portuguese
Árvore Tupelo Preto
Shenandoah grass
In Polish
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
Shenandoah grass
In Latin
Niger Tupelo ligno
Shenandoah grass
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Cornales
Cyperales
Family
Nyssaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Nyssa
Muhlenbergia
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Bombini
-
Subfamily
Nyssoideae
-
Number of Species
451
1
27800
👆🏻