Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

water tupelo

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Nyssa aquatica

Family:

Cornaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

80-100 ft

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

NA

Fruit Color:

purple

Phenology:

deciduous

Noted For:

Fall Color

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Wet garden. Rain garden. Shade tree for wet areas and along wetland edges. Leaves turn yellow in fall. Slow growing.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, Seed

Propagation:

Seed. Sometimes grafted.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Stays wet ---to--- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay, Loam

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Birds, Mammals

Visited by bees and valued by commercial bee keepers as a source of exceptionally sweet honey.  Also said to be wind pollinated.

Fruits eaten by birds and smal mammals.





 

Native Habitats:

Floodplain forests , swamps, usually in water.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Tupelo honey is famous for its unusual sweetness.

General Comments: