Tupelo (Sour Gum)

A deciduous tree usually with a pyramidal habit, but spreading with age. Native to Florida & Texas.

Scientific Name:: Nyssa sylvatica
Mature Height:: 30 - 50'
Mature Spread:: 15 - 30'

Leaves:: Glossy dark green, 2 - 5" long by 3/4 -2 1/2" wide. Turns red, orange and yellow in the fall.
Flowers:: Inconspicuous.
Fruit:: Bluish-black oval seed 1/2 - 5/8" long on female trees. Attractive to birds.
Root System:: No large surface roots.
Growth Rate:: Slow to moderate, but faster with care.
Cultural Notes:: Tolerant of many soils, including poor drainage and occasional drought.
Sacramento Specimen:: SMUD grounds.; Timberlake apartments on Fulton between Hurley and Northern Ave.; 5516 Carlson Drive.

Minimum Planting Distances

from SMUD pad mounted equipment (such as a transformer mounted on a concrete pad): 8 feet
from a building foundation: 15 feet
from walks and driveways: 6 feet
from an air conditioner: 6 feet
from a fence: 6 feet
from a utility offset (such as an underground line, pipe or cable): 6 feet
from a utility overhead (such as an overhead power line): 20 feet
from a swimming pool: 15 feet
from a septic system: 20 feet
between trees*: 18 feet

* To calculate the planting distance between different size trees, add the distances between each species in the column and divide answer in half. Example: the distance between a Red Maple (large tree) and Amur Maple (small tree) is calculated: 25 feet + 15 feet = 40 feet ÷ 2 = 20 feet. The distance between these two different size trees should be 20 feet.