Nyssa sylvatica Sheffield Park
Tupelo, Sour Gum
“Sheffield Park” is a variety of the commonly known, Tupelo, and is an attractive tree with fantastic autumn colours. The foliage emerges light green in spring, ages to darker green, then develops bright orange, yellow, and purple tones in autumn before falling. Small, green-white flowers are borne in spring, and whilst they are somewhat inconspicuous, the nectar they produce is great for attracting birds. These result in dark blue berries which also attract birds. This deciduous tree grows with a pyramidal shape and forms a rounded crown as it ages, eventually reaching 12 m tall and 8 m wide. It can be contained with trimming and performs best when planted in full sun or partial shade on a well-drained site. It will tolerate frost, cool climates, and grows well on heavy, poorly drained soils. This tree makes for an excellent specimen and is well suited to using in avenue plantings, large gardens, parks or anywhere its autumn colours can be appreciated. Its tolerance of heavy soils also makes it ideal for planting around water features such as ponds and streams.
