Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Fruit
Tree
Origin
Southern Asia, India, Melanesia, Australia
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Types
Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis
Nyssa sylvatica
Number of Varieties
15
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Well Drained
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-115-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
9-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Oval or Rounded
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
370.00 cm1,828.80 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
300.00 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Purple
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Yellow
Dark Blue, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Early Spring, Spring, Winter, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Budding, Cuttings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep the Soil well drained, Requires watering in the growing season
Average Water Needs, Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune in spring, Remove branches, Remove branches that rub together, Remove crossing or rubbing branches, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
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 spring, fertilize in summer, organic fertlizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
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
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds, Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
Asthma
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Used in parkland, Water gardening
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Respiratory Disorders, Soothing and relieving pain
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Making Perfumes, Traditional medicine, Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Hedges, Houseplant, Shade Trees, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
CITRUS medica var. sarcodactylis
NYSSA sylvatica
Common Name
Buddha's Hand, Fingered Citron
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
In Hindi
Buddha's Hand
Tree
Black Tupelo Tree
In German
Buddhas Hand
Baum
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
In French
Main de Bouddha
Arbre
Noir Arbre Tupelo
In Spanish
Mano de Buda
Árbol
Árbol negro Tupelo
In Greek
Χέρι του Βούδα
Δέντρο
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
In Portuguese
Mão de Buda
Árvore
Árvore Tupelo Preto
In Polish
Ręka Buddy
Drzewo
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
In Latin
Buddha manus
Arbor
Niger Tupelo ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
-
Magnoliophyta
Class
-
Magnoliopsida
Order
Sapindales
Cornales
Family
Rutaceae
Nyssaceae
Genus
Citrus
Nyssa
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Bombini
Subfamily
-
Nyssoideae
Number of Species
145
1
27800
👆🏻