Nyssa Forum

Tulip Forum Black Tupelo

Nyssa sylvatica ‘Forum’
Forum™ Black Gum / Forum™ Black Tupelo / Forum™ Sour Gum

Nyssa sylvatica ‘Forum’ is a deciduous native shade tree selected for a strong central leader, horizontal branching, and brilliant fall foliage. It has glossy green summer leaves that turn red with yellow veining to fiery crimson in fall. This cultivar has a more uniform, upright pyramidal to oval habit than many seed-grown black gums, making it useful as a specimen shade tree, street tree, lawn tree, native garden tree, or wet-site-tolerant landscape tree. Pride’s Corner lists Forum™ Black Gum at 40–50 ft. tall and 20–25 ft. wide, hardy in Zones 3–8.

Type: Deciduous native shade tree
Mature Size: 20–30 ft. wide × 40–50 ft. tall
USDA Zones: 3a–8b
Form: Upright pyramidal to oval tree with strong central leader and horizontal branching
Light: Full sun to part shade; best fall color in full sun
Soil / Water: Acidic, moist, well-drained to wet soil; tolerates wet sites but also adapts to average garden soil once established
Bloom Time / Length: Spring; small greenish-white flowers, usually not showy
Wildlife: Flowers support bees and other pollinating insects; blue-black fruit is eaten by birds. Pride’s Corner specifically notes birds like the blue-black berries.

Features & Landscape Uses:
Excellent native tree for fall color, wet areas, rain gardens, pond edges, large lawns, naturalized areas, street tree use, and specimen planting. Black gum is especially valued for dependable red, orange, yellow, and purple fall tones; Clemson notes that black gum’s dark green foliage changes in September to intense red with orange, yellow, and purple hues. The species is slow-growing and adaptable, occurring naturally in low wet woods, bottomlands, pond edges, dry rocky slopes, and ravines.

Care:
Plant young, because black gum develops a strong taproot and can be difficult to transplant once larger. Provide acidic soil and avoid high-pH, compacted, or very dry planting sites. Water regularly during establishment and during drought. Prune only as needed in late winter to remove damaged, crossing, or poorly placed branches; ‘Forum’ naturally develops a good leader. Avoid heavy construction damage around the root zone.

Plant type

Deciduous Tree, Shade Tree

Height

40-50'

Width

20-30'

Hardiness zones

3–8

Sunlight

Full Sun, Partial Shade

Growth rate

Moderate

Leaf color

Green

Fall color

Crimson

Attracts

Bees, Birds

Soil

Acidic, Moist well-drained

Landscape use

Accent Plant, Street Tree

Shape

Horizontal Branching, Oval Upright

Fragrant

Yes

Drought tolerant

No