When does water tupelo bloom?

Water tupelo produces small greenish flowers in May and June, typically before the leaves fully expand.

What kind of habitat does water tupelo need?

It grows in swamps, floodplains, and river bottoms where soils stay saturated or flooded for much of the year, and it tolerates standing water better than most trees.

What pollinates water tupelo flowers?

Bees and beetles visit the flowers, with bees considered the primary pollinators of this species.

Does water tupelo lose its leaves in winter?

Yes, it is a deciduous tree and drops its leaves each fall.

How much light does water tupelo need?

It grows best in part sun but can tolerate conditions ranging from full sun to part shade, especially in young trees under a forest canopy.

Is Swamp Tupelo toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Swamp Tupelo as toxic to livestock.

Is Swamp Tupelo HOA-friendly?

Swamp Tupelo takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Swamp Tupelo

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Nyssa aquatica

Last reviewed: September 2026

Nyssa aquatica, commonly called water tupelo, is a wetland tree that blooms in May and June and thrives in swampy, seasonally flooded soils across the southeastern United States.

Toxicity unknown

Swamp Tupelo (Nyssa aquatica) 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 Swamp Tupelo as toxic to livestock.

Light

part sun

Water

high

Size

360"–1800" H × 240"–720" W

Bloom

May, Jun

Native to

AL, AR, FL, GA and 10 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

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 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

South Central Plains Eastern Temperate Forests Ozark Highlands Piedmont Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain Southeastern Plains Ridge and Valley Interior Plateau Interior River Valleys and Hills Mississippi Alluvial Plain Mississippi Valley Loess Plains Southern Coastal Plain

Swamp tupelo is a large native tree that thrives in wet conditions and produces stunning orange-red fall color. This long-lived deciduous tree naturally grows in swampy areas and can reach impressive mature sizes of 30-150 feet tall and 20-60 feet wide.

Growing Swamp Tupelo

Grow Swamp Tupelo in part sun and high water. Mature plants reach 360 to 1800 inches tall and spread 240 to 720 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Swamp Tupelo takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

Extremely large mature size inappropriate for most residential lots
Requires consistently wet soil conditions
May appear scraggly in typical landscape settings

Wildlife value

The spring flowers attract bees and beetles for pollination. The tree provides nesting sites for birds and its seeds feed waterfowl and other wildlife.

Common questions

When does water tupelo bloom?: Water tupelo produces small greenish flowers in May and June, typically before the leaves fully expand.
What kind of habitat does water tupelo need?: It grows in swamps, floodplains, and river bottoms where soils stay saturated or flooded for much of the year, and it tolerates standing water better than most trees.
What pollinates water tupelo flowers?: Bees and beetles visit the flowers, with bees considered the primary pollinators of this species.
Does water tupelo lose its leaves in winter?: Yes, it is a deciduous tree and drops its leaves each fall.
How much light does water tupelo need?: It grows best in part sun but can tolerate conditions ranging from full sun to part shade, especially in young trees under a forest canopy.
Is Swamp Tupelo toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Swamp Tupelo as toxic to livestock.
Is Swamp Tupelo HOA-friendly?: Swamp Tupelo takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

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.

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