Nyssa Sylvatica - The Search for the Perfect Tree Continues

Dr. Michael Dirr

February 17, 2026

In the previous editions, I presented the case for utilizing Nyssa sylvatica, black tupelo, and cultivars in urban and suburban landscapes. With the demise/ruination of Fraxinus, ash, via Emerald Ash Borer, the invasive nature of Acer platanoides, Norway maple, and necessity for genetic diversity, alternatives are needed. Although not a panacea, Nyssa sylvatica offers aesthetics, adaptability, cultivars with improved growth habits, beautiful summer and fall foliage, unique bark, and insect/disease resistances. The local Lowe’s parking islands are chock-a-block full of seedling tupelo and the variation is maddening, especially growth habits. The nursery industry realized the need for improved selections if the tree was to become mainstream.

Nyssa sylvatica is native from Maine to Florida, across the Midwest, dipping south to eastern Oklahoma and Texas.

: Photo of species in the Dirr garden.

: Mature trees at Mount Airy Arboretum with vastly different growth habits.

I have observed/recorded trees in wet flatwoods in Boothbay, ME; granitic cliffsides on Whiteside Mountain (5,000’), NC; and submerged in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Area, Folkston, GA. Nyssa sylvatica displays genetic plasticity/variation in the previously mentioned traits which until recently have not been mined. I reviewed cultivar listings in my Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, Stipes Publishing, Champaign, IL. In the 1998 5th edition, seven were described and eighteen in the 2009 sixth. Keith Warren and I included eighteen in The Tree Book, published by Timber Press. Only those listed on the web as commercially available from at least two sources were included. On the checklist of cultivars listed below 49 are catalogued, less than half available in commerce.

Newer landscape installations are dominated by the improved Nyssa sylvatica cultivars. Tupelos are common in streetscapes, parks, commercial properties and gardens. The prototype species growth habits are pyramidal/oval-rounded to rounded at maturity. The National Champion is 78’ high and 95’ wide. The only habits missing from the cultivars on the checklist are true columnar-fastigiate selections which function where lateral space is restricted. This is about to change with two new discoveries/introductions. Green Gable™ is more upright than many cultivars with projected size of 50’ high and 25’ wide. Photos show a young Green Gable™ in the Dirr garden in 2013; the same tree in 2025. The takeaways are obvious: 1.) Tupelos are not slow growing, and 2.) Green Gable™ is rounded in outline. Literature attributes slow growth to the species.

: Photos in Dirr garden. Green Gable™ in 2013.

: Green Gable™ again in 2025.

A container-grown, 3-gallon ‘Wildfire’, planted in 2010 was 25’ high in 2019.

In June 2022, I presented the lecture, In Praise of Noble Trees, at Mount Vernon as part of the symposium honoring President Washington’s horticultural legacy. President Washington loved trees and planted Nyssa sylvatica around the meandering path framing the Bowling Green and Mansion. Extant trees, including white ash and tuliptree (1785), were planted by Washington. The Washington National Library (separate from Mount Vernon), where the symposium was held, was rife with tupelo seedlings. Most adhered to the species descriptions, somewhat wild and wiggly, except one. A tall, slender, columnar seedling with slight taper to the apex, elegantly clothed with lustrous dark green leaves, begged for attention.

Mount Vernon agreed to the propagation and will introduce it through the Foundation/The Mount Vernon Ladies Association. **@*****************ry.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alec Neubauer, Hidden Hollow Nursery, Belvidere, TN, produced the first budded liners. *****@*********on.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Melanie Welles Creamer, Horticulturist, Mount Vernon, is managing the introduction. Another columnar discovery came to light at the 2026 MANTS, Mid Atlantic Nursery Trade Show. ***********@***il.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ray Jackson and wife Cindy, Jackson Nursery, Belvidere, TN, excel at breeding, selecting, and propagating superior trees and shared the photo of the new columnar-pyramidal Nyssa sylvatica ‘Scarlett Pinnacle’.

: Alex Neubauer with first year budded liners.

: Grafted liner of ‘Scarlett Pinnacle’.

**********@**************ry.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mark Andrews, brand manager, Greenleaf Nursery, Park Hill, OK, mentioned that Greenleaf is growing ‘Scarlett Pinnacle’. Mark noted it was distinctly columnar and on occasion developed orange-red fall color.

These new/improved/better/useful columnar selections of Nyssa sylvatica expand its “reach” in contemporary landscapes. Tall not wide fits numerous nooks and crannies in urban environments. Mike Hayman, Trees Louisville, assembled the largest collection of Nyssa cultivars in the U. S. No doubt these two cultivars will be included, increasing the breeding potential for additional columnar seedlings/selections. He works collaboratively with Hidden Hollow Nursery who grows seedlings from the collection. I walked several of the seedling rows and recognized the future for improved Nyssa sylvatica resided therein.