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Nyssa sylvatica

Black Gum · Black Tupelo · Sour-gum · Blackgum

Family NyssaceaeGenus Nyssa

A broad tree in full scarlet autumn color, its branches spreading over a low brick building against a clear blue sky.
The whole plantFamartinCC BY-SA 4.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Height
40-70 ft12-21 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
20.7-35.5 ft6-11 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Green, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
4-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasional Flooding, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

Protocol

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1998

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 365 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Gibberellic acid soak

  3. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

about 12 months from start to sowing. Then 21 days to germinate.

27% germination in 21 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1998 · 2nd Supplement, Nyssa p. 50Public domain
Show the original text
Nyssa (Nyssaceae). The many failures were reported in the 1 st Suppl. A sample received in fall 1996 germ. 40-700(4/15 in 3rd w), 70D-40-70D(1/15 in 2nd w), and OT(5/15 in April-May). It also germ. 70 GA-3(3/10 in 3rd w), however, all three of these from GA-3 treatment rotted in the following week. Kromm reports that N. sylvatica seeds overwintered outdoors have germinated as high as 60% the following spring. It seems likely that the earlier samples were non-viable seeds or empty seed coats. The viable sample DS 1 y germ. 70 GA-3(3/11 in 3rd w).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd Supplement, 2nd Supplement, Nyssa p. 50. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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