Getting to Know: Black Tupelo Tree or Blackgum Tree - April 2025
That tree at the top of this post is a Tupelo tree. A Black Tupelo tree. Also called a Blackgum tree. Nyssa sylvatica . Really nice shade tree, isn't it? Fall color with the orange foliage. And pyramidal shape. I've noodled this tree over the years. Back in 2022, I talked about adding a Blackgum or Black Tupelo tree. I also talked about other native trees like a Sweetgum, too. So, imagine my delight when I found myself nosing thru the early trees in the parking lot nursery of the big box stores this past week and noticed a few unusual (in terms of what they normally carry) trees that were marked 50% off as part of their Spring Black Friday Sale. They had about six Blackgums (Black Tupelo) trees What is it? Turns out, it is a tree that is native to some parts of Illinois . Love that. With the Exclamation London Planetree dead in the parkway, this seemed like a goo...