Black Gum
Nyssa sylvatica
A spectacular native shade tree that delivers the earliest and most brilliant fall color display, with leaves turning intense scarlet, orange, and purple weeks before other trees. This slow-growing, long-lived beauty adapts to various conditions while providing valuable wildlife habitat. An excellent choice for gardeners seeking four-season interest and low maintenance.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
4–9
USDA hardiness
Height
40-70 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Black Gum in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 shade-tree →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Black Gum · Zones 4–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasional Flooding, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet. Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 70 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 20 ft. 8 in. - 35 ft. 6 in.. Spacing: 12-24 feet, 24-60 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Layering, Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Female trees only. From late summer to fall, the tree produces green drupes that ripen to bluish-black, round to oval, 3/8 to 1/2-inch long, and clustered on stalks up to 1 1/2 inches long. Thin, bitter-smelling flesh surrounds the small, ribbed seeds. The fruits are edible but sour. Birds and small mammals enjoy the drupes.
Color: Black, Blue. Type: Drupe. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Edible
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Spring, Summer
Edibility: Fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. Produces a thin sharply acid pulp that is pleasant to roll in the mouth as a masticatory, it is also used in preserves. The honey bees produce from the flowers of this tree is highly prized.
History & Origin
Origin: Southern Ontario, Central and Eastern United States, and Mexico
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Black Walnut, Deer, Drought, Dry Soil, Fire, Heat, Pollution, Salt, Wet Soil, Wind
- +Attracts: Resistant to fire. This tree is somewhat resistant to deer damage.
- +Wildlife value: Its young sprouts are eaten by white-tailed deer. The fruits (berries) are enjoyed by thrushes and other songbirds, wild turkeys, black bear, foxes, raccoons and opossums from August through October. It is one of the most important food sources for fall song bird migration. The natural hollows that form in the tree are a refuge for reptiles, tree frogs, bats and other wildlife. The spring flowers are a nectar source for bees.
- +Edible: Fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. Produces a thin sharply acid pulp that is pleasant to roll in the mouth as a masticatory, it is also used in preserves. The honey bees produce from the flowers of this tree is highly prized.
- +Low maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Wild Ginger
Thrives in similar acidic soil conditions and provides excellent groundcover under the canopy
Ferns
Tolerates deep shade and acidic soil, creates natural woodland understory
Astilbe
Flourishes in partial shade with consistent moisture from tree's canopy protection
Hostas
Benefits from filtered light and moist conditions provided by the tree's shade
Coral Bells
Adapts well to acidic soil and partial shade conditions under the canopy
Wild Columbine
Native woodland plant that thrives in similar acidic, well-draining soil
Trillium
Spring ephemeral that complements the tree's seasonal cycle and soil preferences
Winterberry Holly
Both prefer acidic, moist soil and provide wildlife habitat in different seasons
Keep Apart
Grass Lawn
Competes for water and nutrients, requires different soil pH and light conditions
Walnut Trees
Produces juglone which is toxic to many plants including Black Gum
Roses
Requires full sun and alkaline soil, opposite of Black Gum's acidic shade conditions
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent disease and pest resistance
Common Pests
Very few pest problems, occasionally scale
Diseases
Generally disease-free, very hardy