October Tree of the Month-Black gum

Nyssa sylvatica

A Missouri native that can reach fifty feet high and thirty feet wide, the black gum or tupelo (depending on where you are from) is a gorgeous addition to any landscape with full sun and room to grow. Don’t freak out over the word “gum” in the name, there are no gum balls to pick up with this one like the sweet gum tree, Liquidambar styraciflua.

The Nyssa is dioecious, meaning separate male and female plants. (Some trees might have a few ‘perfect’ flowers) The flowers are not showy, but are a favorite of bees. (Van Morrison fans note the song ‘Tupelo Honey’) The female trees produce a dark blue fruit, that is attractive to birds, but doesn’t create a mess. The best feature of this tree however is the fall color which is outstanding! Deep red to orange that glows on a sunny October day.

Quite a few cultivars are available including:

‘Wildfire’-red new growth in spring.

‘Zydeco Twist’-interesting zig-zag branches for winter interest.

‘Autumn Cascades’-a weeping form.

Why I love this plant-it’s a native. Spectacular fall color, nice habit/shape. No messy fruit.

What’s not so great? Although it can make a great shade tree, the lower branches do reach out considerably at a horizontal angle so keep in mind clearance issues when placing it near walkways, or streets.

Words and photos by Jo Batzer

© Jo Batzer, garden-lou.com, All rights reserved.