Black Gum Plant Care

Black Gum (Nyssa sylvatica) belongs to the Nyssaceae family within the Nyssa genus. Black Gum is native to eastern North America from the coastal Northeastern United States and southern Ontario south to central Florida and eastern Texas, as well as Mexico. Black Gum is also known as Tupelo, Sour Gum, Pepperidge.

Black Gum displays a deciduous tree growth habit, reaching up to 50 ft tall with a spread of approximately 30 ft. Black Gum produces small greenish flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Black Gum every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Black Gum thrives in full sun to part shade.

Nyssa sylvatica tolerates temperatures of 50–100°F. Black Gum prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Rich, moist, well-draining soil with high organic content. Good drainage is essential for Black Gum to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Black Gum every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to part shade and rich, moist, well-draining soil with high organic content. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Black Gum is suited to USDA Zone 4b – 9a.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Black Gum can spread to about 30 ft (9.1 m) and reach about 50 ft (15 m) tall. Space plants about 30 ft (9.1 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Black Gum while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Black Gum is hardy down to USDA zone 4b, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Black Gum can be propagated through seeds, softwood cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to swamp tupelo plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Black Gum is susceptible to aphids, scale insects, borers. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Black Gum grows outdoors in USDA Zone 4b – 9a. It survives winters down to planting zone 4b. Black Gum is native to eastern North America from the coastal Northeastern United States and southern Ontario south to central Florida and eastern Texas, as well as Mexico.