Cold hardiness

Future

2050

2100

These values are location-based: this location's current hardiness is the baseline, and the 2050 value is a projected future climate for this same location.

Now

Zone 6b

USDA

Published baseline for this location from 1991-2020.

Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer

Well-suited

2050

Zone 7a

Plotwright

Projected zone for this same location in 2050 (2041-2070) using SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry).

Well-suited

In plain terms: This location is in Zone 6b today. Its hardiness profile is cold winters, and coldest nights are typically around -3°F. By 2050, the projected hardiness zone is Zone 7a based on SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry). That is a +0.5-zone shift from Zone 6b to Zone 7a by 2050.

✓

Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.

Heat tolerance

Future

2050

2100

Heat tolerance values are location-based too: heat days today are observed at this site, and the 2050 value projects this same location under a future climate.

Loading AHS heat-zone data for this location...

Where this plant fits

Suitable across 41 ecoregions — 40 climate-resilient through 2070 · 1 suited today. Best matches first.

Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests

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Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests

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Arizona Mountains forests

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Atlantic coastal pine barrens

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Blue Mountains forests

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Canadian Aspen forests and parklands

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Central Pacific Northwest coastal forests

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Central Tallgrass prairie

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Central-Southern Cascades Forests

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Chilean Matorral

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What it needs

Conditions

Light

Full sun / Part shade

Water

Moderate water

Spacing

480"

Habit

Pyramidal-to-rounded long-lived deciduous canopy tree

Care tips

•

Site permanently — the deep taproot resents disturbance.

•

Plant 3-5 trees for reasonable odds of having both sexes for fruit production.

•

Skip fertilization — Nyssa is slow + steady by design.

Lifecycle

Planting

Plant in spring or fall in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Site permanently — the deep taproot makes transplanting difficult. Tolerates wet feet + occasional flooding (a native bottomland species) and drought once established.

Transplanting

Move only when very young (1-3 gallon stock); the deep taproot makes mature trees difficult to transplant cleanly.

Early growth

Water deeply through the first 2-3 seasons. Mulch a wide ring. Resist heavy fertilization — Nyssa is slow + steady; rich soil produces nothing but liability.

Maturity

Mature trees reach 30-50 feet tall with a 20-30 foot pyramidal crown. Female trees produce dark-blue drupes in late summer; require a male within pollination range for fruit set.

Propagation

Seed germinates after cold stratification; named cultivars (Wildfire, Forum, Green Gable) are vegetatively propagated.

Pollination

Dioecious — needs male pollinizer

Polygamodioecious — most trees are functionally male OR female with occasional perfect flowers. Only female trees produce the dark-blue drupes that drive both wildlife value and ornamental drupe display. Plant gender not visible until flowering at year 5-7; nurseries rarely label.

Compatible pollinizers

A second Nyssa sylvatica of the opposite sex within ~100 feet; multiple males per cluster of females improves fruit set.

Within

100 feet of a partner

Bloom timing

Partner bloom-time matching: required

Plants don't grow alone

Nectar forage

Bee

European honeybee (Apis mellifera)

Tupelo honey from the southeastern US (Florida + Georgia) is a recognized premium varietal — among the most-prized monofloral honeys.

Nectar forage

Bee

Common eastern bumblebee (Bombus impatiens)

Fruit forage

Bird

Eastern songbirds (multi-species) (multiple species (Passeriformes))

Dark-blue drupes are a fall-migration energy source for thrushes, robins, mockingbirds, and other migrants.

For people

Not eaten by humans

Black tupelo is grown as an ornamental and wildlife tree, not as food. The drupes are bitter and not consumed by humans; they are critical fall-migration forage for songbirds + black bears.

Native range

Native across 15 US states.

AHS heat range

1-11

Native ecoregions

Naturally belongs in 12 ecoregions — its native range crosses a state or province each one spans (not necessarily this exact habitat).

Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests

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Appalachian-Blue Ridge forests

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Central Tallgrass prairie

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Chihuahuan desert

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Cross-Timbers savanna-woodland

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Edwards Plateau savanna

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Mississippi lowland forests

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Northeastern Coastal Forests

Climate notes

•

NC State Extension lists Nyssa sylvatica for USDA hardiness zones 4a-9b across eastern North America. Native to bottomland forests, upland forests, and swamp margins.

•

Tolerates wet feet + occasional flooding alongside drought tolerance once established — among the most adaptable native canopy trees for residential and stormwater landscapes.

•

No serious pest or disease problems per NC State; leaf spots and scale insects can occur but rarely material.

In the designer

Growth over time

360-600" tall · 240-360" spread

Mature canopy; long-lived (200-300+ years in undisturbed sites).

Design roles: Focal point · Structure

Seasonal interest

Spring

Summer

Fall

Winter

Filled = the plant has seasonal interest · ▾ now = your current season

Black tupelo (black gum)

At a glance

Related products

Why it matters

Cold hardiness

Heat tolerance

Where this plant fits

What it needs

Lifecycle

Pollination

Plants don't grow alone

For people

Native range

Climate notes

In the designer

Seasonal interest

Sources & citations