Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Tree
Origin
North America, United States, Southwestern United States, Texas, Mexico
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Types
Foxtail muhly, Devils Canyon muhly, alkali muhly
Nyssa sylvatica
Number of Varieties
25
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
High elevation, Hillside, Slopes
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-105-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 7
9-7
Sunset Zone
-
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Clump-Forming
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
45.72 cm1,828.80 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink, Purple, White
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown, White
Dark Blue, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, Blue Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Blue Green, Gray Green
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Blue Green, Gray Green, Tan
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Summer, Fall, Winter
Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Slow
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Early Fall, Fall
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs less watering, Water every 3 weeks until the root ball is wet
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
Acidic
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Grass Cuttting and pruning up to 5cm, Prune in early spring, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
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, EDTA iron
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Soil Compaction, Wet Site
Flowers
Showy
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
Fine
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
Pollen
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Ground Cover
Used in parkland, Water gardening
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes, Wildlife
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
-
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Foundation, Groundcover, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
MUHLENBERGIA emersleyi
NYSSA sylvatica
Common Name
Bull Grass
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
In Hindi
Bull Grass
Black Tupelo Tree
In German
Bull Grass
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
In French
Bull Herbe
Noir Arbre Tupelo
In Spanish
Bull Hierba
Árbol negro Tupelo
In Greek
Δελτίο Grass
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
In Portuguese
touro grama
Árvore Tupelo Preto
In Polish
Bull Trawa
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
In Latin
Bull Grass
Niger Tupelo ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cyperales
Cornales
Family
Poaceae
Nyssaceae
Genus
Muhlenbergia
Nyssa
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Eragrostideae
Bombini
Subfamily
Chloridoideae
Nyssoideae
Number of Species
18045
1
27800
👆🏻