I want to highlight two of the “trees for bees” that I mentioned last week. One is Nyssa sylvatica, a.k.a. black gum or tupelo. I fell in love with this tree in the Connecticut woods near where I grew up, watching its glossy leaves turn a brilliant, intense crimson in the fall. Not particularly remarkable during the rest of the year, Nyssa stood out like a beacon in October.
Marc. D. Abrams, Steimer Professor in the School of Forest Resources at Penn State University, describes N. sylvatica as a “ubiquitous yet subordinate” tree. “It seems to grow everywhere,” he says — lowlands, uplands, from high moisture conditions to xeriscapes. It has a large range, and can grow on almost any site, even in heavy, clay soil. It is also the longest-lived hardwood species in the eastern US. (The oldest known tupelo is nearly 700 years old.) Suggests Abrams, “It probably ranks among the longest-lived hardwoods anywhere in the world.”
Tupelo combines shade tolerance, drought tolerance, and fire resistance. It has few pests. Though it arrives late in the natural transition from a field into forest, it can also “invade disturbed areas such as old field and burned areas. If it does so many things so well,” wonders Abrams, “why doesn’t it dominate the vast majority of the eastern US forests?” He notes that black gum typically represents just 1% or 2% of canopy trees.
In his Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, Michael A. Dirr describes N. sylvatica as an “excellent specimen tree, acceptable street tree in residential areas, outstanding summer and fall foliage and habit, lovely in a naturalized area.” He comments on the glossy texture of the summer foliage and the variety of fall colors that emerge, ranging from yellow and orange to crimson and even purple.
So, why don’t we see more of this tree in the landscape? It may have something to do with its slow growth rate, and the fact that its taproot makes it difficult to transplant. I can attest to the slow growth rate. The three black gum trees I planted about thirty-five years ago are maybe twenty-five feet tall today. But if you have some patience and want to leave behind a tree that will bring enjoyment for many generations, I don’t think you can do better than this. While the flowers and fruit are not showy, the nectar is favored by bees, and birds and small mammals eat the small, blue-black fruits that ripen in early fall.
Note: There is a giant specimen of N. sylvatica on the grounds of the Rockwood Museum in Wilmington, DE. It measures in at 103 feet, with a diameter of four feet.
The sourwood tree (Oxydendrum arboreum) is, I think, another under-sung species. This small-ish native has much to recommend it. To start, it is low maintenance, has average water requirements, and grows in sun or shade. It also bears fragrant, showy, white flowers that emerge in June/July. (Flowering and fall color are best in full sun.) One other plus: like Nyssa, the plants are deer resistant. They do need reasonably fertile, well-drained, moist soil. Irregular branching and deeply grooved, brown bark provide visual interest all year long.
Whereas in the wild tupelo trees are often found in swampy areas, sourwoods are most commonly found on rocky wooded slopes in the Appalachian Mountains, often growing in combination with other heath family members, e.g., azaleas and rhododendrons. (They all prefer acidic soil.) Like tupelo, the leaves of sourwood trees turn a beautiful crimson red in the fall. The leaves are long (5-8”), finely-toothed, and glossy green. The white, slightly fragrant flowers appear in early summer on long, drooping panicles (4-8”). Bees love the flowers and produce a highly prized honey from them. Tupelo also produces a delicious honey.
Pam Baxter is an avid organic vegetable gardener who lives in Kimberton. Direct e-mail to pamelacbaxter@gmail.com, or send mail to P.O. Box 80, Kimberton, PA 19442. Learn more at pamelabaxterbooks.com.
