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Nyssa aquatica
Also called Tupelogum, Swamp Tupelo, Blackgum, Cotton Gum, Sourgum, Water Gum, Tupelo Gum
Water tupelo is a large, long-lived tree of swamps and floodplains in the southeastern United States, with a swollen trunk base and roots that stand in water for long periods. It is grown mainly in wet sites and is rarely used as a houseplant.
Nyssa aquatica, commonly called the water tupelo, cottongum, wild olive, large tupelo, tupelo-gum, or water-gum, is a large, long-lived tree in the tupelo family, Nyssaceae, that grows in swamps and floodplains in the Southeastern United States.
Nyssa aquatica trunks have a swollen base that tapers up to a long, clear bole, and its root system is periodically underwater. Water tupelo trees often occur in pure stands.
A large mature tree can produce commercial timber used for furniture and crates. The swollen base of the Nyssa aquatica is the source of a favored wood of wood carvers.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Nyssa aquatica by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
