Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tree
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
Nyssa sylvatica
Number of Varieties
205
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Tropical regions
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-155-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
9-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 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
Clump-Forming
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm1,828.80 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
120.00 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
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
Lance shaped
Oblovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
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
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Average
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
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
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
Prune in early spring, Prune in late winter, Prune when plant is dormant, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
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
Coarse
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
Rash
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Used in parkland, Water gardening
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
-
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
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
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, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
NYSSA sylvatica
Common Name
Shell Ginger
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
Black Tupelo Tree
In German
Shell Ginger
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
In French
Shell Ginger
Noir Arbre Tupelo
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
Árbol negro Tupelo
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
Árvore Tupelo Preto
In Polish
Shell Imbir
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
Niger Tupelo ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Lilopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Zingiberales
Cornales
Family
Zingiberaceae
Nyssaceae
Genus
Alpinia
Nyssa
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Alpinieae
Bombini
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
Nyssoideae
Number of Species
15045
1
27800
👆🏻