Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Tree
Origin
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States
Types
Cherry laurel, California Bay Laurel, Spotted laurel
Nyssa sylvatica
Number of Varieties
35
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Tropical regions
Lowland, Sandy areas, Wet Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
5-95-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
9-6
9-7
Sunset Zone
4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 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
Oval or Rounded
Pyramidal
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm1,828.80 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
300.00 cm762.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Ivory
Yellow green
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Orange Red
Dark Blue, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green, Blue Green, Silver
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Yellow green, Tan, Silver
Crimson, Dark Red, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
Green, Yellow green, Tan
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Oval
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
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Average
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Wet Site
Wet Site, Drought, Soil Compaction
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground
How to Plant?
Grafting, Stem Planting
Seedlings, Stem Cutting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Do Not over Water, occasional watering once established
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Poorly Drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Prune for shortening long shoots, 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
fertilize in growing season
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring
Pests and Diseases
Beetles, Fusarium wilt, Rust, Scab
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought, Salt and Soil Compaction, Shade areas
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, Butterflies
Birds
Allergy
allergic conjunctivitis, Nausea, wheezing
Mild Allergen, Pollen
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Used in parkland, Water gardening
Beauty Benefits
For treating wrinkles, Hair Conditioner, Making cosmetics
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Indoor Air Purification, Insect Repellent
Air purification, Food for animals, Food for birds, Nesting sites for birds, Shadow Tree, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife, Windbreak
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Acne, Cancer, Diarrhea, Emollient, Migraines, Oral health, treating poison ivy
Emetic, Opthalmic, Vermifuge
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaf Stalks, Stem
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Cosmetics, Culinary use, Florist trade and landscaping, Making Perfumes, Oil is used in perfume, soaps, creams, etc., 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
Feature Plant, Foundation, Shade Trees
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
Laurus nobilis
NYSSA sylvatica
Common Name
Sweetbay
Black Tupelo, Blackgum, Sour Gum
In Hindi
Laurus nobilis
Black Tupelo Tree
In German
Echter Lorbeer
Schwarz Tupelo Baum
In French
Laurus nobilis
Noir Arbre Tupelo
In Spanish
Laurus nobilis
Árbol negro Tupelo
In Greek
Laurus nobilis
Μαύρη Tupelo Δέντρο
In Portuguese
Loureiro
Árvore Tupelo Preto
In Polish
Wawrzyn szlachetny
Czarny Tupelo Drzewo
In Latin
Laurus nobilis
Niger Tupelo ligno
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Laurales
Cornales
Family
Magnoliaceae
Nyssaceae
Genus
Laurus
Nyssa
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Epidendreae
Bombini
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
Nyssoideae
Number of Species
345
1
27800
👆🏻