Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
North America, United States, Southwestern United States, California, Mexico
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Types
Lebombo ironwood, Giant ironwood
Nyssa sylvatica
Number of Varieties
55
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Dry areas
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-125-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
9-7
Sunset Zone
8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Spreading
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm1,828.80 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
610.00 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Light Pink, Lavender
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Chocolate, Black
Dark Blue, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Gray Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Gray Green, Gray
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Gray Green, Gray
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Gray Green, Gray
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Small oblong
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Slow
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Transplanting
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Never Over-water
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
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
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
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
Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
-
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Landscape Designing, 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
-
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
Seeds, Stem
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Carvings, Knife handles
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Rock Garden / Wall, Screening / Wind Break, Shade Trees
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
OLNEYA tesota
NYSSA sylvatica
Common Name
Ironwood
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
In Hindi
रेगिस्तान आइरनवुड
Black Tupelo Tree
In German
Wüsteneisenholz
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
In French
désert Ironwood
Noir Arbre Tupelo
In Spanish
Ironwood desierto
Árbol negro Tupelo
In Greek
Ironwood έρημο
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
In Portuguese
deserto Ironwood
Árvore Tupelo Preto
In Polish
pustynia Ironwood
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
In Latin
desert ironwood
Niger Tupelo ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fabales
Cornales
Family
Fabaceae
Nyssaceae
Genus
Olneya
Nyssa
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Robinieae
Bombini
Subfamily
Faboideae
Nyssoideae
Number of Species
3045
1
27800
👆🏻