Description
Nyssa – Tupelo –
There are about 5 species of fast growing, trees in this genus. They occur from woodland and swampland in South and Eastern Asia and North America. They produce simple, alternate leaves. It bears small, inconspicuous green flowers, held in clusters in early summer followed by small, ovoid vivid, dark purple fruits, about 1″ long. Tupelos are grown for their attractive foliage and brilliant red, crimson, yellow and orange autumn color. They are ideal as specimen tree or in group plantings and are also effective near water.
Grow in fertile, reliably moist but well drained, neutral to acidic soil in sun or partial shade, Plant as small specimens, to 12″ tall, from containers, they are difficult to transplant successfully. They are wind tolerant.
Prone to dieback, wood rot, canker, wood stain, leaf spots, white rot, scale insects, blister mite gall, leaf miners and caterpillars.
N. sinensis – Chinese Tupelo – This rare broadly conical, deciduous tree or large shrub from Central China grows 30-50′ feet tall and 30′ feet wide and may be multi stemmed. It produces oval, smooth edged, pointed, dark green leaves, to 8″ long, are sparsely hairy and bronze-red when young, turning brilliant shades of orange, red, and yellow in autumn, and becoming nearly hairless when mature.
Zones 7-9
