Photo by: Sue Dingwell
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: NULL

Nomenclature

Common Name:

swamp black gum, swamp tupelo

Synonym(s):

Nyssa sylvatica var. biflora

Genus species:

Nyssa biflora

Family:

Nyssaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

60-80 ft tall by 40 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

NA

Fruit Color:

NA

Phenology:

Deciduous. Blooms in spring. Fruits ripen in fall.

Noted For:

Hurricane Wind Resistance, Fall Color

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Grows naturally in swamps and best planted in moist areas. For moist settings, it is appropriate both as a shade tree and as a fall-color specimen tree in those parts of the state that get good fall cooling.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

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, Organic

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Birds, Mammals

Pollinated by bees.

Fruite eaten by birds and small to medium sized animals.

Native Habitats:

Dome swamps, strand swamps. Tolerates extended periods of inundation.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Its more upland relative, Nyssa sylvatica, grows well in sandy uplands and is highly similar in appearance. Somewhat slow growing.