Life Span
Perennial
  
Annual
  
Type
Tree
  
Flowering Plants
  
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
  
North America
  
Types
Not Available
  
Helianthus annuus, Heliantheae,
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
  
Dry areas, Open areas, Prairies
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-9
  
3-10
  
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
  
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
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Minimum Height
1,828.80 cm
  
23
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Yellow green
  
Brown, Yellow
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Dark Blue, Black
  
Black, Chocolate, Ivory
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
  
Dark Green, Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oblovate
  
Oval
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Fall
  
Summer
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Bright direct sunlight
  
Growth Rate
Slow
  
Very Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam
  
Dry, Light, Well drained
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic
  
Acidic, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Summer
  
Early Fall, Early Summer, Fall, Late Spring, Late Summer, Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
No
  
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
  
Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Requires regular watering, Requires watering in the growing season
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic
  
Acidic, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam
  
Dry, Light, Well drained
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Poorly Drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Bright direct sunlight
  
Pruning
Prune in early spring, Prune in late winter, Prune when plant is dormant, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Prune ocassionally, Requires little pruning
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
  
Alternaria leaf blight, Apical chlorosis, Bacteria wilt, Bacterial leaf spot, Botrytis head rot, Charcoal rot, Crown gall, Downy mildew, Erwinia stalk rot, Fusarium stalk rot, Fusarium wilt, head rot, Phialophora yellows, Stem spot
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Insignificant
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
Yes
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
Yes
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Coarse
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds
  
Birds, Butterflies
  
Allergy
Mild Allergen, Pollen
  
Runny nose, Red eyes, Watery eyes, Sore eyes, Itchy eyes
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland, Water gardening
  
Beautification, Bouquets, Showy Purposes, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
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
  
Pulmonary afflictions
  
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
  
Flowers, Seeds, Stem
  
Other Uses
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
  
As Fertilizers, Economic Purpose, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for producing cooking oil
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
  
Bedding Plant, Bonsai, Container, Edging, Edible, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Vegetable
  
Botanical Name
NYSSA sylvatica
  
Helianths Annuus
  
Common Name
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
  
Sunflower
  
In Hindi
Black Tupelo Tree
  
Sūrajamukhī
  
In German
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
  
Sonnenblume
  
In French
Noir Arbre Tupelo
  
Tournesol
  
In Spanish
Árbol negro Tupelo
  
Girasol
  
In Greek
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
  
ηλιοτρόπιο
  
In Portuguese
Árvore Tupelo Preto
  
Girassol
  
In Polish
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
  
słonecznik
  
In Latin
Niger Tupelo ligno
  
Helianthus
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Cornales
  
Asterales
  
Family
Nyssaceae
  
Asteraceae
  
Genus
Nyssa
  
Heilanthus
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Not Available
  
Tribe
Bombini
  
Heliantheae
  
Subfamily
Nyssoideae
  
Helianthodeae
  
Number of Species
Not Available