Skip to main content
← Plants for Bees
Black Gum
Black Gum botanical plate
Field guide plate · click to zoom

Black Gum

Nyssa sylvatica
In the United States: Native · also called black gum, black tupelo, sour gum

Honeybees are drawn to black gum for its high-quality nectar, which supports a notable honey flow in its range, and to a lesser extent for pollen from male trees. Bloom peaks in May to June, offering early-season resources after many spring flowers. This dioecious native tree thrives in moist, acidic soils with no invasive tendencies, though it may require space due to its size.

Nectarhigh
Pollenmedium
Bloom (US) April–June
Hardiness zones3-9
Duration~2 weeks
TypePerennial
Sunpartial

Reported nearby

No reports nearby in the last 14 days.

Sign in to report this plant blooming nearby.

BeeAI — Ask the old beekeeper
Hey there, honey. Ask me anything about your bees.