Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
India, Nepal, China, Japan, Korea
Types
Nyssa sylvatica
Cornus controversa
Number of Varieties
51
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
Woodland Garden Canopy
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-95-8
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-7
8-1
Sunset Zone
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Pyramidal
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,828.80 cm1,070.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
762.00 cm610.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green
White, Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Dark Blue, Black
Burgundy, Dark Blue, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Light Yellow, Burgundy, Dark 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
The pH of Soil
Acidic
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Poorly Drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Summer
Late Spring, Early Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
-
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Grafting, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Medium
Requires regular watering during dry weather
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
Clay, Loam
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
-
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
No fertilizers needed
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Bacterial leaf spot, Canker, Powdery mildew
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
Coarse
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds
Allergy
Mild Allergen, Pollen
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Used in parkland, Water gardening
Used in parkland
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
Antiphlogistic
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Oil used in the lubricating and soap industry
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
NYSSA sylvatica
CORNUS controversa
Common Name
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
Giant Dogwood, Wedding Cake Tree
In Hindi
Black Tupelo Tree
Wedding Cake Tree
In German
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
Hochzeitstorte Baum
In French
Noir Arbre Tupelo
Gâteau de mariage Arbre
In Spanish
Árbol negro Tupelo
Pastel de bodas del árbol
In Greek
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
Γαμήλια τούρτα Δέντρο
In Portuguese
Árvore Tupelo Preto
Árvore do bolo de casamento
In Polish
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
Wedding Cake Drzewo
In Latin
Niger Tupelo ligno
MUSTACEUM ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cornales
Cornales
Family
Nyssaceae
Cornaceae
Genus
Nyssa
Cornus
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Bombini
-
Subfamily
Nyssoideae
Cornoideae
Number of Species
453
1
27800
👆🏻