Black Gum Tupelo

Nyssa sylvatica

Size: 3, 7 & 15 Gallon Availability

Tree
Max size: 50’ tall x 40’ wide
Average size: 40′ tall x 30′ wide

Usually Moist, Moist to Dry
Clay, Loam, Sand
Sun, Part Shade
Tolerant of Moderate Salt Spray

AKA: Blackgum, Black Tupelo, Cotton Gum, Sour Gum, Pepperidge

This deciduous tree has a red fall color. It blooms in the spring with inconspicuous green flowers that are pollinated by bees. Its fruits ripen in fall and are eaten by birds and small mammals. They are somewhat sour but sweet enough to be enjoyed raw. It makes a great tree for honey. It is hurricane wind-resistant, and its sweeping branches make it a great shade tree.

The Choctaw people would burn the bark and mix in red oak ash, which would make a red dye. The wood does not split or crack, and is good for woodworking for things like handles, bats, etc, which we learned from the Ojibwa people. Modernly the wood has been used for pulp, boxes, plywood, veneer, and more.