Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Melanesia, Australia
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Types
Umbrella plant
Amate
Nyssa sylvatica
Number of Varieties
10005
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
gardens, Homesteads, Roadsides, Tropical regions, Woods
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-155-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
9-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Upright/Erect
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
610.00 cm1,828.80 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
460.00 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Pink
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Red, Purple
Dark Blue, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Light Green
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Red, Purple
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Average
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Pollution, Soil Compaction
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Transplanting
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, Water occasionally
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
Average
Poorly Drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
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
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Birds
Birds
Allergy
Dermititis
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
Arthritis, Asthma, Headache, Rheumatoid arthritis, Stomach pain
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
Root
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Employed in herbal medicine, 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
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Screening / Wind Break, Street Trees, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
SCHEFFLERA actinophylla
NYSSA sylvatica
Common Name
Octopus Tree
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
In Hindi
ऑक्टोपस पेड़
Black Tupelo Tree
In German
Octopus tree
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
In French
arbre Octopus
Noir Arbre Tupelo
In Spanish
árbol pulpo
Árbol negro Tupelo
In Greek
χταπόδι δέντρο
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
In Portuguese
Octopus árvore
Árvore Tupelo Preto
In Polish
Ośmiornica drzewo
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
In Latin
polypus ligno
Niger Tupelo ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Apiales
Cornales
Family
Araliaceae
Nyssaceae
Genus
Schefflera
Nyssa
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Bombini
Subfamily
Aralioideae
Nyssoideae
Number of Species
1545
1
27800
👆🏻