Black Gum Tree Leaf Identification
Black gum referring to the dark leaves.
Black gum tree leaf identification. Black gum is an excellent choice to add autumn color to your garden. It is found in dry upland forests occasionally bottomlands savannas and upland depressions that are occasionally flooded. Black gum nyssa sylvatica or black tupelo is a medium to large growing deciduous tree native to usda zones 4 to 9. The fruit and leaves of sweetgum look nothing like these true gums.
Black leaf spot is one of several leaf spot diseases caused by fungus. Blackgum or black tupelo is a native deciduous tree that may grow 50 to 80 feet tall. Summer leaves are a dark green with a high gloss appearance but the most spectacular part of this tree is the fall foliage with many shades of yellow orange bright red purple or scarlet that may appear on the same branch. Alternate simple pinnately veined obovate in shape with an entire margin 3 to 5 inches long.
Leaf spots multiply at the end of the growing season. A medium sized tree whose branches stand at right angles to the trunk. Black tupelo or nyssa sylvatica is the most common true gum in north america and grows from canada to texas. For landscape design it is a fantastic fall choice.
The specific epithet sylvatica means of the woods this species has two common names. The symptoms include raised black spots with ragged edges on leaves. Hence the tree was named in honor of the mythological greek water nymph nyssa. Nyssa sylvatica black tupelo black gum nyssa sylvatica one of the most attractive native trees around.
The black gum nyssa sylvatica is a deciduous tree that is originally from the united states. It is favored for its brilliant fall foliage and its winter form which displays attractively dropping branches over time. Black gum blackgum nyssa sylvatica. Another common tree that is called a gum is sweetgum and is actually an entirely different tree species classification called liquidambar.
Nyssa sylvatica commonly known as tupelo black tupelo black gum or sour gum is a medium sized deciduous tree 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. While tupelo is derived from the creek indian name for the tree ito opilwa which means swamp tree. The blackgum is grown as an ornamental for its beautiful scarlet red fall color and the shiny dark green leaves in the summer. Black gum leaf black gum leaf on any variety of the tree is an elongated oval that flutters in the slightest of breezes from the slender branches.