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Sour Gum

Nyssa Sylvatica

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Overview

Nyssa sylvatica, commonly known as Sour Gum or Black Gum, is a stately deciduous tree, prized for its straight trunk and glossy, dark green leaves. Growing up to 70 feet tall with a spread of 30-50 feet, it showcases brilliant fall colors, shifting from orange to scarlet and purple. Tolerant of wet conditions, it‚Äôs ideal for adding vertical interest and autumnal drama in temperate landscapes. Zones 4-9.

Sun FullWater High, MediumZones 4–10Type TreeClimate Temperate

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — making it an excellent choice for diverse landscape designs; is a stately deciduous tree, image 59

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — also commonly referred to as Black Gum or Tupelo; its bark is another point of interest; it is deeply furrowed, image 61

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — shifting from orange to scarlet and purple

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — This North American native

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — green and white flowers in the garden

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — shifting from orange to scarlet and purple; dark green leaves that transform into a spectacular display of reds, image 54

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — is a stately deciduous tree; making it an excellent choice for diverse landscape designs, image 50

Culture

Sun: Full
Water: High, Medium
USDA zones: 4–10

Shape & size

Mature height: 30–50 Ft.
Mature width: 20–30 Ft.

Classification

Type: Tree
Family: Cornaceae
Climate: Temperate

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Photos (83)

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — making it an excellent choice for diverse landscape designs; is a stately deciduous tree, image 59

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — also commonly referred to as Black Gum or Tupelo; its bark is another point of interest; it is deeply furrowed, image 61

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — shifting from orange to scarlet and purple

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — This North American native

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — green and white flowers in the garden

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — shifting from orange to scarlet and purple; dark green leaves that transform into a spectacular display of reds, image 54

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — is a stately deciduous tree; making it an excellent choice for diverse landscape designs, image 50

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — eventually maturing into a more rounded form - ideal for providing shade

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — The Sour Gum thrives in full sun to partial shade and is highly adaptable to a variety of soil types

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — Growing up to 70 feet tall with a spread of 30-50 feet; commonly known as Sour Gum or Black Gum

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — tree for full; the Sour Gum is better known for its fall foliage and blue-black berries that attract a variety of wildlife

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — making it an excellent choice for diverse landscape designs; is a stately deciduous tree

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — commonly known as Sour Gum or Black Gum; growing up to 70 feet tall with a spread of 30-50 feet, image 49

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — it‚Äôs ideal for adding vertical interest and autumnal drama in temperate landscapes

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — scientifically known as Nyssa sylvatica; this North American native, image 57

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — acidic soils.<br><br>The tree has a pyramidal shape in its youth; prized for its straight trunk and glossy

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — it‚Äôs ideal for adding vertical interest and autumnal drama in temperate landscapes; it showcases brilliant fall, image 56

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — it‚Äôs ideal for adding vertical interest and autumnal drama in temperate landscapes; it showcases brilliant fall colors

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — prized for its straight trunk and glossy

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — also commonly referred to as Black Gum or Tupelo

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — inconspicuous flowers in the spring

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — This North American native; scientifically known as Nyssa sylvatica

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — dark green leaves that transform into a spectacular display of reds; shifting from orange to scarlet and purple, image 63

Sour Gum (Nyssa Sylvatica) — shifting from orange to scarlet and purple; dark green leaves that transform into a spectacular display of reds

Photographs by 11 contributors

DouglasGoldman, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
David J. Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Berean Hunter, CC BY-SA 2.5 · source
Bostonian13, CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Charles T. Bryson, CC BY 3.0 us · source
Wendy Cutler from Vancouver, Canada, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Katja Schulz from Washington, D. C.,…, CC BY 2.0 · source
Fontema, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Wasp32, CC BY 4.0 · source
Richard Webb, Bugwood.org, USA, CC BY 3.0 us · source

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