Nyssa sylvatica
Commonly known as blackgum or black tupelo, this tree species can handle a variety of soils from somewhat drought-tolerant to straight up standing water. It has a long taproot which allows it to adapt to many different conditions, but this also precludes it from being easily moved, so plan ahead with your planting space!
Small greenish-white flowers blossom in the spring and serve as a food source for bees, and give way to elongated dark blue fruits which are edible but quite sour. The leaves have a brilliant scarlet color in the fall.
Use: Fruit is edible raw or cooked. A bit sour, but great in preserves.
Source: grown from seed by Pinelands Nursery, New Jersey
Nyssa sylvatica (Blackgum)
details
SIZE AND POT INFORMATION: More details coming in May type: tree sun needs: full sun, part sun/part shade, shade water needs: average, moist height: 30-60' plant spacing: 40' distance bloom time: April, May, June bloom color: white, green, brown special notes
edible parts: fruit, although sour. salt tolerant. Some salt exposure should not be fatal to the plant but some leaf burning may still occur.