Wildfire black gum

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; best foliage colour in full sun.

Water

Keep evenly moist while establishing. Established trees tolerate occasional dry spells, but prolonged drought can cause leaf scorch and early leaf fall.

Soil

Acidic, humus-rich soil that retains moisture; tolerates clay and periodic wetness. Avoid chalky or strongly alkaline soil.

Height

30-50 ft (9-15 m), sometimes taller with age

Spread

20-30 ft (6-9 m)

Flowers

Small, inconspicuous greenish flowers in late spring.

Foliage

Glossy, oval leaves emerge red, mature to dark green and turn orange, scarlet or purple in autumn. Fresh growth can add further red highlights during summer.

Growth

Moderate once established; often slow during the first few years.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Cold hardy
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   8 ft (2.4 m)

3. After 2 years

   9 ft (2.8 m)

4. After 3 years

   10 ft (3.2 m)

5. After 5 years

   13 ft (3.9 m)

About 26 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Native to

the US and Canada

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant a young, container-grown tree in its permanent position; established trees resent root disturbance.
• Water deeply during dry weather for the first two or three growing seasons.
• Spread 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch over the root area, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed only if growth or a soil test indicates a deficiency; avoid routine high-nitrogen feeding.
• Stake only if the root ball moves in wind, and remove supports once the tree is firmly rooted.

Pruning. Prune in late winter while dormant, removing dead, damaged or crossing branches and correcting competing leaders while the tree is young. Keep pruning light and do not top the tree.

Late winter

Check the branch structure and carry out any light corrective pruning.

Spring

Plant where winters are severe, water thoroughly and mulch the root area.

Late spring

Check new leaves for yellowing between green veins, especially on alkaline soil.

Summer

Water young trees deeply during dry spells and keep grass away from the trunk.

Autumn

Plant in mild regions while the soil remains warm and moist.

Late autumn

Refresh mulch if needed and check young trunks for rubbing guards or tight ties.

• Use as a lawn specimen where its red spring growth and autumn colour can be seen from the house.
• Place at a woodland edge with acid-loving shrubs and shade-tolerant groundcover.
• Use as a long-term shade tree in a medium or large garden, allowing space for its mature crown.
• Plant near a pond or rain-garden margin where soil stays moist but planting depth does not leave the trunk submerged.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Wildlife garden, Autumn colour, Grand estate, New England and Traditional.

Plant it with: Rhododendrons, Deciduous azaleas, Oakleaf hydrangea, Virginia sweetspire, Christmas fern and Pennsylvania sedge.

Wildlife: Flowers provide nectar and pollen for insects. Where fruit is produced, the small blue-black drupes feed birds; fruiting depends on flower sex and suitable pollination. Older trees provide shelter and nesting sites.

• Yellow leaves with green veins usually indicate iron chlorosis on alkaline soil. Test the soil; use an appropriate iron treatment for temporary relief, but choose a naturally acidic site for a lasting solution.
• Brown leaf edges and premature leaf fall can follow drought. Water deeply and maintain an organic mulch.
• Poor establishment often follows planting too deeply or disturbing large roots. Keep the root flare visible and start with a younger tree.
• Leaf spots may develop in humid weather. Clear badly affected fallen leaves and avoid wetting the foliage; established trees rarely need treatment.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No part is generally recognised as poisonous, but the leaves, bark and fruit should not be treated as pet feed.

• Wild-type black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)

  Has the same general leaf shape and habit, but usually lacks the conspicuous, consistent red flush of new growth characteristic of 'Wildfire'.

• Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

  Has star-shaped, deeply lobed leaves and spiky seed balls; black gum has unlobed oval leaves and small, smooth fruits when present.

• Red maple (Acer rubrum)

  Has opposite, lobed leaves and paired winged seeds; black gum has alternate, unlobed leaves.

Nyssa refers to a water nymph, sylvatica means 'of woods', and 'Wildfire' describes the cultivar's fiery red new growth.

Propagation. Named plants are normally propagated commercially by grafting or budding onto Nyssa sylvatica rootstock. Seedlings will not reliably retain the red new growth of 'Wildfire'.

Accepted botanical name

Nyssa sylvatica

In the US and Canada

Native in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland and Masachusettes.

Measured

Soil pH 4.5 to 6. Average height 1370 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.