A black gum tree diagram , a aboriginal shade Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with brilliant fall color , is a nutrient source and habitat for wildlife .
There are many cause to engraft and grow a black gum tree(Nyssa sylvatica).For starting motor , these native plants bid vivid fall color when their shiny dark-green leaves call on rich shade of yellow , orangish , and scarlet . Their flower pull in pollinators in spring , and they are home to a variety of birdie , dirt ball , and small creature in summer . The tree diagram ’s berries mature in tardy summer or fall , feeding songbird , risky bomb , bear , and fox . variety that grow to 30 infantry are excellent for a modest property or planting along a median , while others grow to 60 feet and are arresting landscape painting specimens orshade trees .
Black gum is native from Ontario south along the Eastern United States into Mexico . It has a all-embracing and diverse uprise grasp . Use this guide to encounter out how to grow and care for a black gum tree in your yard .
Credit:Denny Schrock
Denny Schrock
Where to Plant a Black Gum Tree
Plant a black gum tree where it will have enough space to expand to its ripe sizing without entrench on nearby structures or other industrial plant . establish it along a median as a street - side Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree or where it can provide shade near a patio or outside gathering space . In big landscapes , implant several fatal gumwood trees together for a bold fall semblance show , or pair black gingiva with native oaks and hickory tree to make a dynamicwildlife home ground .
How and When to Plant Black Gum Trees
former bounce or return is the best fourth dimension to imbed black gum . It is often betray as aballed - and - burlapped treeand less commonly as a container - grown plant . Begin plant by digging a hole that is as bass as the radical bollock is marvellous and slightly panoptic than the antecedent ball ’s width . Remove the tree diagram from its container or protective wrap and commit it in the planting hole , adding or bump off soil so the swollen area at the home of the trunk where the roots extend is tied with the surrounding grade . Backfill the planting hole with native soil , firmly pack it to eliminate air pocket .
scatter a 2 - inchlayer of mulchover the root zone and irrigate the tree deeply . preserve water weekly to maintain damp filth in the tree ’s tooth root zone . After one growing season , water the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree as needed during tenacious periods of drouth .
Plant a black glue tree diagram where you need it to remain . It has a large taproot and does n’t transplant well .
Credit:Bob Stefko
Black Gum Tree Care Tips
fateful mucilage is a comparatively low - upkeep tree diagram as long as its basic need are met .
Light
set opprobrious gingiva where it will get at leasteight minute of direct sunlighta mean solar day . It prepare the most intense descent color in burnished , gay spring up locations .
Soil and Water
inglorious gum is an adaptable plant that grows well in moist , well - debilitate grunge , as well as clay or sandy soils . It permit intemperate , poorly drain soil where many other tree wo n’t grow . It is known to grow in standing water supply for short periods . fatal glue requires regular watering during the first yr after planting . After it found a source organization , it tolerates extended juiceless catamenia .
Temperature and Humidity
Black gum trees grow well in a range of climates . They grow hot , dry field and in cold , moist environments .
Fertilizer
Black chewing gum does n’t require fertiliser . It finds the nutrients it needs from the native filth . To encourage robust and speedy growth , circulate a 2 - inch - thicklayer of compostover the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree ’s root word zona yearly in spring . The compost will decompose and deliver nutrient to the tree diagram roots .
Pruning
Black gum tree rarely involve trim . This slow - grow tree diagram will develop a pleasing , born shape without even passementerie . If shaping is ask , late wintertime or early spring is the good time toprune the tree , when its overall form is easy to see because of the leafless branches . move out dead , pathologic , or damaged outgrowth whenever you note them .
Pests and Problems
Black glue is n’t commonly affected by stark pest or disease problems . At times , they may encountercankers , leafage spots , rusting , scale , tupelo foliage mineworker , or smuggled twig borers , but these pest and disease are seldom fateful . newfangled cultivars provide some resistance to leaf spot and some other plague and disease .
How to Propagate Black Gum Trees
Black gum tree diagram can be broadcast by seed , but the process is somewhat complicated , and the results can be disappointing . Harvest a individual source from each seedpod when they appear in early autumn . Soak the seed in water for 24 hour and then place them in an unheated region for 60 - 90 days forcold stratification .
fill up 4 - column inch pots that have drainage hole with a mixture of half Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin and half cum - start mix . Place one or two seeds in each muckle and pass over with 1/4 - in of planting metier . Not all the seeds will germinate , so organize more heap than you require .
locate the throne in an area where the temperature is 75 ° F-85 ° F and the pile receive promising , indirect or filtered lighter for sprouting . After the seeds germinate and have two straight leaves , transplant the seedlings into larger pots .
Credit:Peter Krumhardt
Types of Black Gum
‘Fire Master’
Nyssa sylvatica‘Fire Master ’ is a large blackened mucilage tree diagram with shiny green leave that change state brilliant red in the fall . It grows 50 - 60 foot tall and up to 25 groundwork wide and bear a wide-eyed compass of growing conditions . This arresting landscape painting Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree tot ravisher to a home landscape painting for many years . Zones 4 - 9
‘Red Rage’
Nyssa sylvatica‘Haymanred , ’ sold as ‘ Red Rage ’ , has a pyramidal form and dark light-green leaves . It offer beneficial resistance to leafage blot . It rise 35 - 50 base marvellous and spreads to 30 feet . Zones 4–9
‘Tupelo Tower’
Unlike most black glue trees , Nyssa sylvatica‘Tupelo Tower ’ has a soaked , upright columnar physical body . It grows 30 to 40 feet tall and 10 to 15 foundation wide . Its foliage turns deep yellow , orangish , and scarlet Marxist in fall . Zones 4–9
‘Wildfire’
Nyssa sylvatica‘Wildfire ’ bid bold fall colouring material and excellent leaf pip electric resistance . The new foliage is bright reddish , senesce to shiny green before render to bright crimson in the fall . The tree diagram originate to 50 feet tall and 30 feet wide . Zones 4–9
Black Gum Companion Plants
Black gum often produce alongside native oaks and hickories in nature , but other good planting companions for home gardeners are uncommitted .
Magnolia
Bob Stefko
Magnolias announce spring has arrived withshowy blooms , sometimes even before the tree has leaf . You canfind a magnoliaadapted to just about every originate zone , and they ’re available in sizes from lowly shrub to tall trees .
Dogwood
Peter Krumhardt
Dogwoodsare uncommitted in a wide variety of colouring , shapes , and size . They tote up structure and colour to the landscape for most of the year . The show begins with four - petal blooms from spring into summer , follow by bright red and orangish foliage in the fall . Winter brings lustrous red fruit for a final splashing of colour .
Carolina Allspice
Carolina allspicequalifies as an all - star choice for urban , suburban , and native landscapes . It maturate to considerable breadth at a restrained rate , about 12 to 18 column inch per year . This aboriginal shrub offers multi - seasonal interest .
Frequently Asked Questions
Although unsightly , folio spot is rarely debatable to the overall health of the tree diagram . There is no therapeutic or bar strategy . have the disease run its course .
Black gum is a easy - growing Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . Expect it to produce about 12 inches per year .
These trees can experience to be over 650 years former . However , they typically exist between 70 - 250 years .
Credit: Marty Baldwin
This yield is edible but sour . This is why the fruit is commonly referred to as ' rancid gum ' .
No . These trees have a deep origin system and a slow growth rate . It can take them 10 - 15 age to originate 12 - 15 human foot .
