When does Black Tupelo bloom?

Black Tupelo produces small, inconspicuous greenish flowers in May and June before the tree fully leafs out.

What pollinators visit Black Tupelo flowers?

Bees and butterflies visit the flowers of Black Tupelo, drawn to the nectar produced during its late spring bloom period.

How much water does Black Tupelo need?

Black Tupelo tolerates a wide range of soil moisture, from wet, swampy ground to drier upland sites, but grows best with consistent medium moisture.

What does Black Tupelo look like in fall?

The foliage turns a deep, glossy red to orange in autumn, making it one of the earliest and most reliable trees for fall color.

How much sun does Black Tupelo need?

Black Tupelo grows best in full sun but tolerates part sun and part shade, especially when young or growing in a forest understory.

Is Black Gum toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Black Gum as toxic to livestock.

Is Black Gum HOA-friendly?

Black Gum is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Black Gum

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Nyssa sylvatica

Last reviewed: October 2026

Black Tupelo is a deciduous shade tree with glossy summer foliage that turns brilliant scarlet in fall. It blooms in May and June and grows best in full sun with medium soil moisture.

Toxicity unknown

Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Black Gum as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

900"–1200" H × 480"–840" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May

Native to

AL, AR, CT, FL and 25 more states

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 459 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Try it with your yard

Black tupelo is a beautiful native shade tree known for its stunning fall color that ranges from yellow to orange to deep red. It grows slowly into a pyramidal shape when young, becoming more irregular with age, and produces small blue-black berries that birds love.

Growing Black Gum

Grow Black Gum in full sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 900 to 1200 inches tall and spread 480 to 840 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Black Gum is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, street edge, mid zone.

Berry drop may stain pavement or sidewalks

Wildlife value

Host plant for tiger swallowtail, spring azure.

This tree supports over 30 species of moths and butterflies as a host plant, while its spring flowers attract bees and other pollinators. The berries are an important food source for birds including woodpeckers, thrushes, and wild turkeys.

Common questions

When does Black Tupelo bloom?: Black Tupelo produces small, inconspicuous greenish flowers in May and June before the tree fully leafs out.
What pollinators visit Black Tupelo flowers?: Bees and butterflies visit the flowers of Black Tupelo, drawn to the nectar produced during its late spring bloom period.
How much water does Black Tupelo need?: Black Tupelo tolerates a wide range of soil moisture, from wet, swampy ground to drier upland sites, but grows best with consistent medium moisture.
What does Black Tupelo look like in fall?: The foliage turns a deep, glossy red to orange in autumn, making it one of the earliest and most reliable trees for fall color.
How much sun does Black Tupelo need?: Black Tupelo grows best in full sun but tolerates part sun and part shade, especially when young or growing in a forest understory.
Is Black Gum toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Black Gum as toxic to livestock.
Is Black Gum HOA-friendly?: Black Gum is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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