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Black Tupelo

Nyssa sylvatica

  • One of the most attractive trees around
  • Spectacular fall foliage with many shades of yellow, orange, bright red, and purple often on the same branch
  • Important wildlife food for birds
  • Unique bark resembles alligator hide
  • Grows 30' to 50' high with 20' to 30' spread
  • Zones 4 to 9
  • Can't ship to: AK, AZ, HI
Guaranteed Healthy Delivery
Item # 3781 | Shipping Height: 1' - 1 1/2'
*Mem. Price:$8.98
Reg. Price:$13.50
Quantity:

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Zones 4 - 9
Zones 4 - 9

Hardiness Zones: Zones 4 - 9
The Black Tupelo (Black Gum) can be expected to grow in the zones shown in color in the arborday.org zone map.VIEW MAP

shade tree
shade tree

Type of tree:
The Black Tupelo (Black Gum) falls into the following type(s): Shade Trees

30' - 50' High
30' - 50' High

Mature Height:
The Black Tupelo (Black Gum) grows to be 30' - 50' feet in height.

20' - 30' Spread
20' - 30' Spread

Mature Spread:
The Black Tupelo (Black Gum) has a spread of about 20' - 30' at full maturity.

Slow to Medium Growth
Slow to Medium Growth

Growth Rate:
This tree grows at a slow to medium growth rate. [More about this.]

Multiple Exposures
Multiple Exposures

Sun:
This Black Tupelo (Black Gum) does well in full sun, partial shade.

Various Soils
Various Soils

Soil:
The Black Tupelo (Black Gum) grows in acidic, loamy, moist, rich, sandy, silty loam, well drained soils.

Oval Shape
Oval Shape

Shape:
This Black Tupelo (Black Gum) has oval, rounded shape.

More Info
More Info

One of the most attractive native trees around. Summer leaves are a dark green with a high-gloss appearance, but the most spectacular part of this tree is the fall foliage with its many shades of yellow, orange, bright red, purple or scarlet that may appear on the same branch. Bark matures to medium gray and resembles alligator hide. Fruit is bluish-black and is loved by many birds. Makes a strong specimen tree and grows 30'-50' high, with a 20'-30' spread. This tree prefers well-drained, acid soils, and full sun to partial shade.

Arborday.org Hardiness Zone Map
Spring Shipping Fall Shipping
Color Zone Approximate
Ship Dates 		Order
Deadline 		Approximate
Ship Dates 		Order
Deadline
  2 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  3 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  4 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  5 04/15–05/30 05/14 11/01–11/26 11/12
  6 03/19–05/12 05/07 11/01–12/03 11/19
  7 03/11–05/07 04/30 11/05–12/10 11/26
  8 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
  9 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
  10 02/26–04/30 04/23 11/05–12/10 11/26
We're sorry, but this tree can't be shipped to AK, AZ, HI , territories, or countries outside the U.S. This is due to the agricultural laws within these locations.

When you order trees from The Arbor Day Foundation, your order is guaranteed to arrive in a good, healthy condition or we'll replace them at no charge. Your trees will be shipped at a suitable time for planting.

Each tree is guaranteed to grow, or we'll replace it at one half the original price, plus shipping and handling.

The benefits of bare-root trees

Our trees are delivered with natural bare roots which have been dipped in hydrating gel prior to shipment to keep the roots moist and healthy. As their abundant, fibrous roots aren't confined by a container, bare-root trees get off to a more vigorous start compared to containerized roots which typically need more time to adjust to transplanting. Bare-root trees typically surpass the size of larger containerized trees in only a few years.

  Standard Dwarf
  Mature
Height		 Space
Needed		 Mature
Height		 Space
Needed
Apple 20' - 25' 35' x 35'

10' **

 10' x 10' ++
Peach 20' 20' x 20' 8' - 10' 10' x 10'
Sweet Cherry 30' 20' x 25' 12' - 15' 10' x 10'
Sour Cherry 20' 20' x 20' 8' 10' x 10'
Pear 20' 20' x 20' 12' - 15' 12' x 12'
Apricot 20' 20' x 20'    
Plum 20' 20' x 20' 8' - 10' 10' x 10'
      ** semi-dwarf 12' - 15'
++ semi-dwarf 12' x 12'

Natural Root and Containerized Trees

Natural root (also called bare root) trees are shipped without soil around their roots. They are shipped when dormant in the spring and fall seasons. We dip the roots in a hydrating gel to keep them moist during shipping.

There are a number of advantages to natural root trees:

  • They are very affordable.
  • Their roots re-establish themselves well once they are planted in their permanent location.
  • They are easy to plant at the correct depth.

The Urban Horticulture Institute at Cornell University has an interesting article about the benefits of planting natural root trees. Look for the PDF entitled Creating the Urban Forest: The Bare Root Method

Potted (also called containerized) trees come in 4" containers.


If you have questions, please call (888) 448-7337 or E-mail Member Services.