Plotwright
Home
›
Catalog
›
Black tupelo (black gum)
Habit (mature) · Calistemon / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Limited coverage
Black tupelo (black gum)
Nyssa sylvatica
A long-lived native deciduous canopy tree of eastern North American bottomland and upland forests with brilliant scarlet-orange fall color (often considered among the finest fall colors of any North American tree) and small dark-blue drupes that feed migrating songbirds + black bears. Dioecious — only female trees produce fruit. Tolerates wet feet but also drought once established; among the most adaptable native canopy trees for residential landscapes.
Native: 15 US states
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: broad (73/100)
Focal point
Structure
Light
Full sun / Part shade
Water
Moderate water
Mature size
360-600" tall · 480" apart
Hardy in zones
4a-9b
very cold to frosty winters
Summer heat range
Cool-Hot
cool to hot summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
Yes
Related products
Sponsored
Watering and irrigation
Watering cans, soaker hoses, drip kits, moisture meters, and timers.
Search watering and irrigation on Amazon →
Acid-soil care
Sulfur, acid-loving plant fertilizer, pine bark, and pH monitoring.
Search acid-soil care on Amazon →
Soil testing and pH
pH meters, soil test kits, lab mailers, and amendment calculators.
Search soil testing and ph on Amazon →
Wildlife protection
Bird netting, deer fencing, rabbit guards, trunk guards, and crop covers.
Search wildlife protection on Amazon →
Transplanting and establishment
Trowels, transplant spades, starter fertilizer, root stimulators, and watering bags.
Search transplanting and establishment on Amazon →
Container growing
Grow bags, planters, potting mix, saucers, casters, and container irrigation.
Search container growing on Amazon →
Plotwright may earn a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Native across 15 US states and Canadian provinces — a wide-ranging part of North America's plant communities.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
✓
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Where this plant fits
Suitable across 41 ecoregions — 40 climate-resilient through 2070 · 1 suited today. Best matches first.
Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests
›
Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests
›
Arizona Mountains forests
›
Atlantic coastal pine barrens
›
Blue Mountains forests
›
Canadian Aspen forests and parklands
›
Central Pacific Northwest coastal forests
›
Central Tallgrass prairie
›
Central-Southern Cascades Forests
›
Chilean Matorral
›
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Black tupelo (black gum) (Nyssa sylvatica). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/black-tupelo
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited — 18 source-backed.
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
University extension service
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY-SA 4.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
Plotwright
Climate-aware plant planning — every plant checked against your zone now and in 2050.
support@arteractive.co
Explore
Catalog
Collections
Regions
Wildlife
Futures
Designer
Timeline
Tips
Reference
Sources
Data & methods
For educators
Policies
Privacy
Cookies
Usage & terms
© 2026 Plotwright