NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Nyssa sylvatica

Blackgum, Black Gum, Black Tupelo, Sourgum, Pepperidge, Tupelo Gum

Scientific Name:	Nyssa sylvatica
Genus:	Nyssa
Species Epithet:	sylvatica
Common Name:	Blackgum, Black Gum, Black Tupelo, Sourgum, Pepperidge, Tupelo Gum
Plant Type	Tree
Life Cycle	Perennial
Plant Family	Nyssaceae (Tupelo Family)
Native/Alien:	NC Native
Size:	36-72 ft.
Bloom Color(s):	White, Green
Light:	Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day
Soil Moisture:	Dry, Moist, Wet
Bloom Time:	April, May, June
Growing Area:	Mountains, Piedmont, Sandhills, Coastal Plain
Habitat Description:	Dry or mesic upland forests, less commonly in bottomlands, pine savannas, or upland depressions, where occasionally inundated briefly (Weakley 2015). Common throughout NC.
Leaf Arrangement:	Alternate
Leaf Retention:	Deciduous
Leaf Type:	Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like
Leaf Form:	Simple
Life Cycle:	Perennial
Wildlife Value:	Highest Wildlife Value
Landscape Value:	Highly Recommended and Available
State Rank:	S5: Secure ^(*Key)
Global Rank:	G5 - Secure ^(*Key)
Notes:	"A handsome ornamental and shade tree, Black Tupelo is also a honey plant. The juicy fruit is consumed by many birds and mammals." Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
Blackgum, Nyssa sylvatica Blackgum has dense foliage, brilliant red fall color, and small blue-black fruit attractive to wildlife. It's also an important bee tree for honey. It grows in many habitats, from moist woods along streams to dry uplands. Charley Winterbauer, April 2012, Wilmington
Leaves Blackgum leaves are easily mistaken for Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana), but Blackgum leaves are usually glossy above and will sometimes have a few teeth on the margins. Blackgum twigs have terminal buds which Persimmons lack.
Twig
Branching pattern Blackgum branches usually are short and come off the tree at right angles. Lower branches of young trees may have a distinct droop.
Leaves can sometimes have 1-2 small toothlike projections on the leaf margins Guilford County, North Carolina Bettina Darveaux
Sporting some Fall color. Tooth-like projections on the margins are very apparent. Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Deeply furrowed bark Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Close-up of bark. The leaf margins are curled in this picture - most likely evidence of damage from a late spring frost. Orange County, NC Bettina Darveaux
Cleaned seeds from cultivated plant. Watauga Co., NC Annkatrin Rose
Links:	USDA PLANTS Database Record