Green Guides: <i>Nyssa sylvatica</i>

Fall color ranges from yellow to orange and scarlet to deep purple.Photo courtesy of Steven J. BaskaufNyssa sylvatica (black gum, black tupelo) has become one of my favorite trees. Its slam-on-the-brakes-to-gawk fall color and large, commanding presence top my lists of favorite attributes.
 
There’s a beautiful specimen near my home, and it’s on the list of honey dos (or honey plants) for this year. The more I learn about this tree, the more surprised I am to see so few of them. 
 
Andrew Pulte, horticulture professor at the University of Tennessee said it’s one of the most underused trees, which is surprising because of its multiseason appeal and extreme resistance to insects and diseases.
 
“Black gum is adaptable to both wet and dry sites and 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,” Pulte said.
 
And 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, he said.

City arborists, take note
N. sylvatica needs room to grow and spread – it matures at 30 feet to 50 feet tall and up to 25 feet wide. It’s a good choice as an urban selection because it performs well in poorly drained and heavy soils, said Win Dunwell, horticulture professor at the University of Kentucky.
 
Many large cities include N. sylvatica on their preferred street tree lists: Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, Portland, Chicago and Kansas City, to name a few, said Nancy Buley, communications director at J. Frank Schmidt.
 
“Thanks to its versatility and adaptability, it was named 2008 Tree of the Year by the Society of Municipal Arborists,” she said. “A widespread native range, from Maine to Florida and eastward from Ontario to Texas, is key to this tree’s adaptability and suitability as a street tree.”

Some cultivars
‘Autumn Cascades’ is a weeping form introduced by Broken Arrow Nursery in Hamden, Conn. It offers excellent red, orange and yellow fall color.
 
Red Rage from J. Frank Schmidt has deep green, high gloss summer foliage that turns outrageously bright red with the onset of fall weather. It offers good resistance to leaf spot.
 
‘Zydeco Twist’ features stems that twist and spin in all directions.
 
‘Dirr’ was selected by woody plantsman extraordinaire Michael Dirr for its spring and fall foliage.