Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, China
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Types
Tropical Fruit Tree
Nyssa sylvatica
Number of Varieties
105
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Subtropical forests, Tropical Forests
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-155-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
9-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 24
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
1,220.00 cm1,828.80 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
1,370.00 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Ivory
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Yellow green, Brown
Dark Blue, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oblong or Lanceolate
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
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Average
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
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
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Poorly Drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove dead branches
Prune in early spring, Prune in late winter, Prune when plant is dormant, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Put diluted fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
Pests and Diseases
Chlorosis, Susceptible to insect pests and moulds
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
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Birds
Allergy
-
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
Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Antifungal, antimicrobial, Astringent, Expectorant
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Jam, Jelly, used in Indian cuisine in curries
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Shade Trees, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
DILLENIA indica
NYSSA sylvatica
Common Name
Chulta, Elephant Apple
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
In Hindi
Elephant Apple
Black Tupelo Tree
In German
Elefant von Apple
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
In French
Elephant d'Apple
Noir Arbre Tupelo
In Spanish
El elefante de Apple
Árbol negro Tupelo
In Greek
ελέφαντας της Apple
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
In Portuguese
Elefante da Apple
Árvore Tupelo Preto
In Polish
Słoń Jabłko
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
In Latin
Elephant Apple
Niger Tupelo ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Dilleniales
Cornales
Family
Dilleniaceae
Nyssaceae
Genus
Dillenia
Nyssa
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Bombini
Subfamily
-
Nyssoideae
Number of Species
145
1
27800
👆🏻