How to Identify the Black Gum

Leaf Identification

The leaves of the Black Gum are dark green and elliptical with entire margins and a slightly acuminate (tapered) tip. The veins are pinnate, and the leaves sometimes develop purple spots. The leaves can reach 5-6″ in length, and they turn a scarlet color and drop in the fall.

  • Leaf of Arbor Walk #32
  • Leaf of Arbor Walk #32
  • Underside of Leaf from Arbor Walk #32
  • Leaf (Fall) of Arbor Walk #32
  • Leaf (Fall) of Arbor Walk #32
  • Leaf of Arbor walk #91
  • Underside of Leaf from Arbor Walk #91
  • Leaf (Fall) of Arbor Walk #91

Twig and Bud Identification

The Black Gum’s twig turns a reddish-brown color in fall and winter. They often have curved spur shoots as well. The leaf buds are ovate and turn dark brown in the winter. They have also have many scales.

  • Flower Buds of Arbor Walk #32
  • Twig of Arbor Walk #32
  • Bud of Arbor Walk #32
  • Twig of Arbor Walk #91
  • Bud of Arbor Walk #91

Bark Identification

The Black Gum has a grayish-brown bark with shallow furrows, and very old bark can develop thick blocky ridges.

  • Bark of Arbor Walk #32
  • Bark of Arbor Walk #91

Fruit Identification

The Black Gum has dark purple, oval drupes. Usually they have about a 1/2″ diameter, and the seed itself is ribbed. They ripen in late September and only appear on females.

[photo forthcoming]

Flower Identification

The flowers of the Black Gum are greenish-white. The males flower in dense heads, and the females flower in sparse clusters.

  • Flowers of Arbor Walk #91

‘Wildfire’ Identification

Its leaves emerge as a dramatic red in the spring and fades to a green color throughout the summer. The wild type only has red coloration in the fall.

‘David Odom’ Identification

It has exceptional fall colors and has a more pyramidal shape compared to the wild type.

Tupelo ID Tips

  • The genus Nyssa (tupelo) was formerly ordered within the Dogwood family; however, Nyssa trees do not share the arcuate veins of dogwoods (curling towards the tip, instead of straight to the sides). Tupelos have pinnate venation on their leaves.
  • The Black Gum is one of five Nyssa species, two of which are limited to a very small range along the Florida Panhandle and nearby areas. The other two species besides Black Gum with extensive ranges are Swamp Tupelo and Water Tupelo.
  • The Black Gum is distinguished from the Water Tupelo primarily by noticeable leaf differences. Black Gum leaves are half the length of Water Tupelo leaves, and have smooth margins, whereas the Water Tupelo leaves reach 10-12″ at longest and have sparse, irregularly arranged teeth.
  • The Black Gum is distinguished from the Swamp Tupelo by its trunk and habitat preferences. The Swamp Tupelo primarily lives in submerged conditions, and develops a pyramidal trunk at its base. The Black Gum does prefer moisture-rich habitat, but does not primarily grow in submerged soils. As such, it maintains a more typical trunk base.