Nyssa sylvatica 'Wildfire' Black Tupelo or Black Gum
Black gum or black tupelo is a medium-sized, native deciduous tree. The black gum is grown as an ornamental for its beautiful, scarlet red, fall color and for its shiny, dark green leaves in the summer.
The black gum typically reaches 20 to 30 feet in cultivation. Trunk diameter is typically 1 to 2 feet. The tree prefers average, medium to wet soils in full sun. It tolerates many soil types and moisture conditions, but is slow-growing, reaching about 12 to 15 feet in about ten years.
Tupelo is a good street tree, specimen, and shade tree. The spectacular fall foliage color will add interest to your landscape.
'Wildfire' Black Tupelo has spectacular red-tipped new growth into summer, followed by excellent red fall color.