# Black Tupelo (*Nyssa sylvatica*) The Black Tupelo is a beautiful tree that grows tall and has shiny green leaves. In the fall, its leaves turn bright red and orange, making it look like it's wearing a colorful coat! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 37 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Black Tupelo](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/2014-11-02_12_47_05_Black_Tupelo_during_autumn_at_The_College_of_New_Jersey_in_Ewing%252C_New_Jersey.JPG&width=800) Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2014-11-02_12_47_05_Black_Tupelo_during_autumn_at_The_College_of_New_Jersey_in_Ewing%252C_New_Jersey.JPG) ## Appearance The Black Tupelo is a stately tree with deeply furrowed, dark gray bark that resembles alligator skin on older trees. Its oval leaves turn spectacular shades of fiery red, orange, and purple in autumn, contrasting with its small, blue-black, berry-like fruits. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Cornales - **Family:** Nyssaceae - **Genus:** Nyssa ## Interesting facts - Bees love its flowers so much they make a delicious, spicy honey from its nectar! - Its wood is super tough because the grains twist and interlock, making it really hard to split! - Old Black Tupelo trees can grow to be over 100 feet tall, reaching for the sky! - Sometimes it's called the 'Sour Gum' tree because its tart, dark blue fruits look like berries! ## Special abilities - **Wetland Wanderer:** Black Tupelo can thrive in soggy soils and even standing water, letting it grow where many other trees cannot survive. - **Fiery Fall Show:** Its leaves turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and purple in autumn, creating one of nature's most stunning displays. - **Sweet Nectar Producer:** Black Tupelo has tiny flowers that produce lots of nectar, attracting busy bees and other helpful pollinating insects. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 1500-3000 cm - **Spread:** 900-1500 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.8 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar for honey - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Feasts on its dark blue fruits - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Enjoys the ripe, tart fruit - **Shelter:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — Finds homes in its sturdy branches ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Fruit Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-tree): A fruit tree is a perennial tree that produces fruit, which is edible to humans or animals. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be careful not to climb too high in trees, and always ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black Tupelo? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Black Tupelo? 1500-3000 cm ### How wide does Black Tupelo spread? 900-1500 cm ### How big are the flowers on Black Tupelo? 0.3-0.8 cm ### When does Black Tupelo bloom? Late spring to early summer ### Is Black Tupelo edible? Yes ### Is Black Tupelo toxic? None ### What is Black Tupelo's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Advance Mills](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/advance-mills) — Virginia, US · Neighborhood - [Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arrowmont-school-of-arts-and-crafts) — Tennessee, US · Campus - [Awbury Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/awbury-arboretum) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Bald Eagle State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bald-eagle-state-forest) — Pennsylvania, US · Forest - [Camp Evans](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-evans) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site - [Hempstead Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hempstead-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District [View all places to see Black Tupelo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/black-tupelo) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Black Tupelo: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-tupelo)