Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
Tree
Origin
Southern Africa, South Africa
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Types
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
Nyssa sylvatica
Number of Varieties
255
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
marshes, Sandy flats, Slopes
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-105-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-7
9-7
Sunset Zone
21,22
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
20.30 cm1,828.80 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
15.20 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Orange, Gold
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Dark Blue, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green, Yellow green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Several shades of Green
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Succulent
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Winter
Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
-
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
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Bulbs, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Reduce watering in winter, Water three times weekly in summer
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, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune to control growth, prune to control shape, Prune to stimulate growth
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
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
Pests and Diseases
-
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
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies, Insects, pollinators
Birds
Allergy
Skin irritation, Skin rash, Toxic
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Cut Flowers, Showy Purposes, Used as an interior landscaping species, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
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
-
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
Flowers
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Beneficial species for attracting pollinators, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for Landscaping
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, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
NYSSA sylvatica
Common Name
Chincherinchee, Wonder-flower, Star-of-Bethlehem
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
In Hindi
Chincherinchee
Black Tupelo Tree
In German
Kap-Milchstern
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
In French
Chincherinchee
Noir Arbre Tupelo
In Spanish
Chincherinchee
Árbol negro Tupelo
In Greek
Ornithogalum thyrsoides
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
In Portuguese
Chinkerinchee
Árvore Tupelo Preto
In Polish
Chincherinchee,
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
In Latin
Chincherinchee
Niger Tupelo ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Cornales
Family
Asparagaceae
Nyssaceae
Genus
Ornithogalum
Nyssa
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Ornithogaleae
Bombini
Subfamily
Scilloideae
Nyssoideae
Number of Species
18045
1
27800
👆🏻