Tupelo
Nyssa sylvatica
Awesome display of orange-yellow-scarlet foliage in fall turns to a dramatic show of bare, red-tinged branches in winter. Dark blue fruit attracts birds. Terrific garden tree. Deciduous.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | NIS-a sil-VAT-i-ka |
| Key feature: | Fall Color |
| Plant type: | Tree |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Deciduous |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 5 - 9 |
| Light needs: | Full sun |
| Water Needs: | Once established, needs only occasional watering. |
| Average landscape size: | Moderate grower to 30 to 50 ft. tall, 20 to 30 ft. wide, can become larger. |
| Growth rate: | Moderate |
| Growth habit: | Round |
| Special features: | Attracts Birds, Dramatic Foliage Color, Fall Color, North American Native, Year-round Interest |
| Landscape uses: | Firescaping/Fire Wise, Seacoast Exposure, Very Wet Areas, Woodland Garden |
| Blooms: | Inconspicuous |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 6295 |
| Retailers for this plant: |
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Watering can be reduced after establishment. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. Pruning time: winter.
Design Ideas
This beautiful native of the Southeast is an excellent tree for low and damp areas. Use as a shade tree in wild and native gardens. Place in the back of the landscape, where it has room to flourish.
Companion Plants
Grow this Tupelo with other Southern natives such as American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) and the evergreen Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). Grow with showy native shrubs such as Carolina Allspice (Calycanthus floridus), Yellow Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea'), and Swamp Jessamine (Gelsemium rankinii).
History
This native tree enjoys a very large range of low swampy sites extending from Canada to Florida and west to Texas into Mexico. An important tree to the honey industry introduced to Europe in 1750. It was classified by Humphrey Marshall of Pennsylvania.
Lore
Linnaeus who conferred the name, Nyssa, after a mythological water nymph to describe the tree's preference for watery sites.
Awesome display of orange-yellow-scarlet foliage in fall turns to a dramatic show of bare, red-tinged branches in winter. Dark blue fruit attracts birds. Terrific garden tree. Deciduous.
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Watering can be reduced after establishment. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. Pruning time: winter.
Design Ideas
This beautiful native of the Southeast is an excellent tree for low and damp areas. Use as a shade tree in wild and native gardens. Place in the back of the landscape, where it has room to flourish.
Companion Plants
Grow this Tupelo with other Southern natives such as American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) and the evergreen Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora). Grow with showy native shrubs such as Carolina Allspice (Calycanthus floridus), Yellow Twig Dogwood (Cornus sericea 'Flaviramea'), and Swamp Jessamine (Gelsemium rankinii).
History
This native tree enjoys a very large range of low swampy sites extending from Canada to Florida and west to Texas into Mexico. An important tree to the honey industry introduced to Europe in 1750. It was classified by Humphrey Marshall of Pennsylvania.
Lore
Linnaeus who conferred the name, Nyssa, after a mythological water nymph to describe the tree's preference for watery sites.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | NIS-a sil-VAT-i-ka |
| Key feature: | Fall Color |
| Plant type: | Tree |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Deciduous |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 5 - 9 |
| Light needs: | Full sun |
| Water Needs: | Once established, needs only occasional watering. |
| Average landscape size: | Moderate grower to 30 to 50 ft. tall, 20 to 30 ft. wide, can become larger. |
| Growth rate: | Moderate |
| Growth habit: | Round |
| Special features: | Attracts Birds, Dramatic Foliage Color, Fall Color, North American Native, Year-round Interest |
| Landscape uses: | Firescaping/Fire Wise, Seacoast Exposure, Very Wet Areas, Woodland Garden |
| Blooms: | Inconspicuous |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 6295 |
