Images of the Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica)

Black Tupelo

Nyssa sylvatica

This medium-sized deciduous tree, also called Swamp Blackgum or Swamp Tupelo, is native to eastern North America. Its leaves change color early in the fall and it has been suggested that this signal might alert migrating birds to the presence of ripe fruits on the tree, a process known as foliar fruit flagging.

Habitat:Swamps, floodplain forests, uplands, near ponds and estuaries.

Growth Habit:Deciduous tree, growing 10-30 m tall.

Bloom Time:Late spring.

Longevity:Moderate.

Presence in US:AL AR CT DC DE FL GA IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MO MS NC NH NJ NY OH OK PA RI SC TN TX VA VT WI WV

Presence in Canada:ON

This project was supported in part by NSF Grant IIS-03-25867 (ITR: An Electronic Field Guide: Plant Exploration and Discovery in the 21st Century) and by the Washington Biologists' Field Club.

Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views, opinions, or policy of the National Science Foundation (NSF).