UT Gardens' Plant of the Month for August 2007:

Black Tupelo, Black Gum, or Sour Gum

Submitted by Andrew Pulte

Around the year 1735 the first member of the genus Nyssa was described and given the name Nyssa aquatica. Nyssa is a derivation of Nysa, the mythological water nymph. Later (around 1750) this plant was discovered to be related to one of the eastern seaboard’s most beloved native trees: Nyssa sylvatica or Black Gum. The scientific name “sylvatica” means “of woods” which by all accounts would make Black Gum the water nymph of the woods.

This makes sense because you often find this tree along stream banks throughout the eastern half of the U.S. However, it’s not isolated to stream beds; it’s also quite ubiquitous in the southeast in both lowland and upland areas. In the wild you will find Black Gum in large groups as well as mixed with other hardwood trees. The common name Black Gum is somewhat of a misnomer because the tree is not known to produce latex or gum of any kind. The wood of Nyssa has been used for centuries for implement handles, skid poles and even floors.

Black Gum could possibly be one of our most underused native trees. It is adaptable to both wet and dry sites and is relatively immune to almost all insects and disease. This tree is also interesting during all four seasons. In spring a beautiful flush of shiny green leaves appears with soft greenish yellow flowers. This is followed by a late summer crop of small blue and red berries that are quickly eaten by wildlife as they ripen in late September. Fall is when this tree really comes into its own as its leaves show their charm in shades of florescent yellow, orange, scarlet and deep purple.

Black Gum is by far one of the most consistent in its fall display and never seems to disappoint those looking for a tree with fall personality. When the brilliance of fall is passed, the gray-brown, broken and thick irregular bark stands out and complements the different forms of this tree, which can range from pyramidal in youth to oval at maturity.

Nyssa sylvatica is a great size tree for many urban yards. It matures to between 30 feet and 50 feet high and spreading around 20 feet or 25 feet. Typically only the straight species of this tree is planted; however, some noteworthy cultivars can be found in the nursery trade. The UT Gardens proudly displays the common species of Nyssa sylvatica along with Nyssa sylvatica 'Zydeco Twist' a new contorted variety, and Nyssa sylvatica ‘Dirr’, a variety chosen by plantsman Michael Dirr from the University of Georgia. You many also want to lookout for the variety ‘Wildfire’ chosen specifically for fall color and 'Autumn Cascades' which has a graceful weeping habit.

Andrew Pulte is a graduate student in the University of Tennessee Department of Plant Sciences. He works under the guidance of Dr. Susan Hamilton, director of the UT Gardens. The UT Gardens are a project of the Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station. The original gardens are located in Knoxville on Neyland Drive. Additional gardens are located in Jackson on Airways Blvd. Admission is free, and the Gardens are open to the public seven days a week during daylight hours.

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Contact:

Patricia C. McDaniels, (865) 974-7141