Plant Of The Month

Nyssa sylvatica

"Country girl, sweeter than tupelo honey&"

Nyssa sylvatica (literally "water nymph of the woods") is one of five species of tupelo native to North America. Their flowers are exceedingly attractive to bees; and in the southeastern United States, especially northern Florida, bee keepers will move their hives near stands of tupelo when they are in bloom. Tupelo honey, produced by bees visiting Nyssa aquatica and N. ogeche and prized for its mild flavor, is iconic of the south (Elvis was born in Tupelo, Mississippi) and immortalized in country music. But I digress.

Our own tupelo, N. sylvatica, is one of the most handsome of our native trees. It is somewhat pyramidal in youth and somewhat irregular in maturity. Potential height is 50 feet with a spread of 30 feet. Its ovate to elliptic leaves are dark lustrous green in the summer which then change to vibrant reds, oranges, purples and yellows in autumn. If it is reliable fall color that you want, then this tree fills the bill. Color change also begins earlier than other trees.

As I mentioned earlier, its flowers are decidedly non-ornamental though their popularity with bees indicates that they seem to produce some very sweet nectar. The fall-ripening fruit is a small bluish black drupe that is, like the flowers, quite non-ornamental, but is an important food resource for migrating birds; it is thought that perhaps the earlier color change actually attracts migrating birds to this resource.

Not all trees will produce fruits since the species is dioecious, producing "male" and "female" flowers on separate trees. The literature will also refer to black tupelo as polygamo dioecious - which simply means that on every tree there is the potential for some "perfect" (having both stamens and pistils) flowers.

The literature is split on pest and disease resistance. Some declare it disease free while others mention summer leaf spotting that affects virtually all specimens. Proper sitting is mentioned as being very important in promoting resistance. Even though it is listed as a full sun to partial shade tree, fully exposed situations are less than ideal. Well drained, moist, acidic, deep soils are ideal; though in nature the species can be found in a multitude of habitats.

Black tupelo is said to be somewhat difficult to transplant because of its taproot (hence the need for deep soils). In his Manual of Woody Landscape Plants Dirr recommends transplanting as a B&B in early spring after an early root pruning and also notes that container grown trees "reestablish quite well." Even though this tree is listed as a slow grower I believe it to be more than worthy of a place in the landscape.

The popularity of Nyssa sylvatica is easily seen in the 27 Ohio nurseries that grow it. There are several cultivars, some with weeping habits, but apparently only the basic species is grown here.

Article and photo by David Emmitt, Program Manager-Plant Science and Landscape Technology, Cuyahoga Community College, Eastern Campus. The program's curriculum is accredited by the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) and courses taught include botany, woody and herbaceous landscape plant materials and entomology. He received both his Bachelors and Masters degree from Kent State University.