Black Gum Tree

The Black Gum Tree, or Tupelo, is a highlight of fall, producing the most powerful display imaginable. Rich tones of red, purple and orange light up the garden with a power you would not have believed possible, leaving all but a few other trees looking pale and insignificant. The summer leaves are beautiful too, with a rich green color and a glossy surface quite unlike other deciduous shade trees. With a beautiful pyramidal form and a central trunk, this tree is as graceful as it is colorful. The insignificant flowers produce a crop of small blue berries that will attract migrating birds to your garden.

• One of the most colorful fall trees in existence
• Leaves of scarlet, purple and orange set the garden alight
• Striking upright pyramidal form
• Glossy leaves in rich green
• Grows well even in wet soils

You can grow the Black Gum Tree from zones 4 or 5 to zone 9, and it is best to plant it in full sun for the most powerful fall colors. It grows in almost any soil, including soils that are often wet, or even permanently flooded. Yet once established it is surprisingly drought tolerant too, and it grows well in all but alkaline soils. Free of pests and diseases, this tree is easy to grow, and is one of the most beautiful and desirable shade and woodland trees there is.