Black-gum, Sourgum/ Black Tupelo/ Pepperridge

Black-gum, Sourgum/ Black Tupelo/ Pepperridge

Nyssa sylvatica

A native black gum valued for its brilliant red fall colour and strong horizontal branching habit.

  • Upright, oval to rounded crown
  • Mainly dioecious: trees are male or female and sometimes both
  • Obovate to elliptic leaves are dark green above and paler below
  • Fall foliage is a brilliant scarlet colour
  • Commonly used for naturalizing, woodland/woods edge, specimen
  • Grows best in full sun to partial shade
Size
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Plant Characteristics

Sunlight
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil Moisture
Moist, Wet, Average, Well-drained
Drought Tolerant
✓
Hardiness Zone
3 – 3
Mature Height (meters)
10.0 – 15.0
Mature Spread (meters)
9.0 – 10.0
Growth Rate
Slow
Foliage Colour
Red
Fall Colour
Red
Bloom Time
Spring
Habit
Columnar
Deer Resistant
✓
Rabbit Resistant
✓
Pollinator Friendly
✓
Attracts Birds
✓
Ontario Native
✓
Landscape Uses
Mass planting, Accent
Growing & Maintenance Tips
An excellent ornamental shade tree with brilliant fall colour and suitable for a wide range of locations, including typically wetter areas. Grows best in a slightly acidic soil. The fruits are technically edible but quite sour, and attractive to birds when they ripen.

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