Nyssa sylvatica (Black Tupelo)

Nyssa sylvatica, known as Tupelo or Black Tupelo, is a striking deciduous tree native to the eastern United States, celebrated for its exceptional autumn foliage and adaptability across various climates. It grows to about 11 meters tall with a 6-meter spread, forming a neat, rounded, and upright canopy.

Its rich green leaves provide dense shade in spring and summer, transforming into brilliant yellows, oranges, crimsons, and scarlets in autumn, making it one of the finest trees for fall color. The tree also features ornamental bark, fine branching, and small bluish-black fruit that attract wildlife.

Tupelo thrives in full sun to part shade, prefers moist, well-drained loam or clay soils, and tolerates periodic wetness. It is cold-hardy, suitable for urban or rural settings, and requires moderate watering during establishment and dry spells. Maintenance is low, involving light pruning to shape and remove dead wood.

Ideal for larger gardens, parklands, and ecological plantings, Tupelo offers year-round structure, shade, and seasonal interest.

Please note, as living products, our trees naturally vary in size and appearance throughout the seasons. The photos on our website are provided as a helpful guide, but may not always reflect our current batches. We always aim to deliver stock as pictured, but some variation is to be expected. For up-to-date sizing, please refer to our current height guide. If you’d like to see photos of our current stock, just let us know—we’re happy to send them!