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Sour Gum ​is a tree that looks great in all seasons, but is enjoyed the most in the fall, because of the gorgeous red leaves. 
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Sour Gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
What do you call a tree that can't make up it's mind?
  • Undeciduous! 
Did you know?
  • The wood is nearly impossible to split, due to the twisted, interlocked grain. 
  • The wood is used to make wheel hubs, agricultural tools and equipment, paving blocks, pallets, floors, crates, boxes, wooden utensils and veneers 
  • The wood is widely used to make furniture, caskets, and railroad ties 
  • The fruits are edible, but quite sour—hence the name, “sour” gum
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Common Names: 
  • Sour Gum
  • Black Gum 
  • Black Tupelo
Wildlife Benefits: 
  • White-tailed deer feed on the leaves
  • Birds and mammals eat the fruit
  • Reptiles, tree frogs, bats, and other wildlife use the hollows that form in the tree for shelter
  • Nectar source for bees in the early to late spring 
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Habitat: 
  • Woodlands 
Size: 
  • ​30-50' tall, with a crown width of 20-30'
Growing Conditions: 
  • Full sun to partial shade
  • Moist, well-drained soil 
Select Identification Characteristics: 
  • Leaf Type: Simple
  • Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
  • Bud Arrangement: Alternate
  • Terminal Bud: Single 
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