Blackgum
Nyssa sylvatica
- Native to:
- Canada, Mexico, United States
Photo by David J. Stang
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Nyssaceae
- Genus:
- Nyssa
- Species:
- Nyssa sylvatica
- USDA Symbol:
- NYSY
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 2500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- green
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Actrix dissimulatrix, Antispila nysaefoliella, Azalea sphinx (Darapsa choerilus), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americana), Ectoedemia nyssaefoliella, Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), false prominent (Schizura leptinoides), False Underwing Moth (Allotria elonympha), Forest Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Hebrew moth (Polygrammate hebraeicum), Luna moth (Actias luna), Morrisonia latex, Regal Moth (Citheronia regalis), skiff moth (Prolimacodes badia), tupelo leaffolder moth (Actrix nyssaecolella), White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: Two-spotted bumble (Bombus bimaculatus), ⚠️Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) Moths:Antispila nyssaefoliella, Ectoedemia nyssaefoliella, Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), False Underwing Moth (Allotria elonympha), Hebrew moth (Polygrammate hebraeicum), Luna moth (Actias luna), skiff moth (Prolimacodes badia)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, bees
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- red, orange, yellow, purple
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from the root crown following fire. Historically associated with fire-maintained ecosystems.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.0 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Prefers bottomlands and swampy areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold stratification and should be sown fresh for best results. Germination can be erratic.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are sown in late October using a Love seeder set at 2nd gear @5 setting.
Establishment: Seeds are purchased from local people who collect within a 50 mile radius of the nursery. Fruits are blue-black, fleshy drupes that ripen in the fall. Black gum is found throughout the eastern US: from the northeastern and Upper Midwestern states south to eastern Texas and Florida. Seed sources are from south central Missouri.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Expose to fluctuating outdoor winter temps incl. freezing for 3 months. Increase light/temp in spring.