Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tree
Origin
Mexico, Central America
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Types
Cuphea hyssopifolia
Nyssa sylvatica
Number of Varieties
355
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Tropical areas
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-155-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
9-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 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
Cushion/Mound-forming
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
20.30 cm1,828.80 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.40 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Pink, Light Pink, Lavender, Violet
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Dark Blue, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Light Green, 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 to lance-shaped
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, 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, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Divison, Layering, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs watering once a week, Requires more often in extreme heat
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 if you want to improve plant shape
Prune in early spring, Prune in late winter, Prune when plant is dormant, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
14-14-14 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
Birds
Allergy
-
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Borders, Ground Cover
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
Dysentry, Eye Infection, Indigestion, Organ Stones
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
Flowering Tips, Flowers, Leaves, Shoots, Stem
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Showy Purposes
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
CUPHEA hyssopifolia
NYSSA sylvatica
Common Name
False Heather, Mexican Heather, Hawaiian Heather
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
In Hindi
Mexican Heather
Black Tupelo Tree
In German
Mexican Heather
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
In French
Mexicaine Heather
Noir Arbre Tupelo
In Spanish
Heather mexicana
Árbol negro Tupelo
In Greek
Μεξικού Heather
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
In Portuguese
Mexican Heather
Árvore Tupelo Preto
In Polish
Mexican Heather
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
In Latin
Mexicanus Heather
Niger Tupelo ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Myrtales
Cornales
Family
Lythraceae
Nyssaceae
Genus
Cuphea
Nyssa
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Bombini
Subfamily
Lythroideae
Nyssoideae
Number of Species
25045
1
27800
👆🏻