Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Grass
Tree
Origin
Mexico, South-Central United States, Southeastern United States
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Types
Dallas Blues grass, Rotstrahlbush grass
Nyssa sylvatica
Number of Varieties
125
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Prairies, Roadsides, Warmer regions
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-105-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 3
9-7
Sunset Zone
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 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
60.00 cm1,828.80 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.00 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Pink
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
Dark Blue, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Light Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green, Brown
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Tan, Brown
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Salt
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Divison, Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Low
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Water frequently while growing, Water more frequently during periods of extreme drought
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
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune when plant is dormant, 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
No fertilizers needed
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Ladybug
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
Ladybug beetles
Birds
Allergy
-
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Used in parkland, Water gardening
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Shelter for wildlife
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
Whole plant
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Food for insects, Used as a dye, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Dried Flower / Everlasting, Container, Edging, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
Panicum virgatum
NYSSA sylvatica
Common Name
Shenandoah grass, switchgrass
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
In Hindi
Shenandoah grass
Black Tupelo Tree
In German
Shenandoah grass
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
In French
Shenandoah grass
Noir Arbre Tupelo
In Spanish
Shenandoah grass
Árbol negro Tupelo
In Greek
Shenandoah grass
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
In Portuguese
Shenandoah grass
Árvore Tupelo Preto
In Polish
Shenandoah grass
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
In Latin
Shenandoah grass
Niger Tupelo ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Cyperales
Cornales
Family
Poaceae
Nyssaceae
Genus
Muhlenbergia
Nyssa
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
Bombini
Subfamily
-
Nyssoideae
Number of Species
145
1
27800
👆🏻