Nyssa sinensis Seeds | Chinese Tupelo
LATIN NAME: Nyssa sinensis
COMMON NAME: Chinese Tupelo
Plant Profile
A distinctive member of its genus, Chinese Tupelo (Nyssa sinensis) is a deciduous tree in the tupelo family, native to China and vietnam, while it is grown in mild gardens of the world. The Chinese tupelo is a handsome, broadly conical tree of gardens, and its fine, oval leaves and its fiery autumn colour have made it one of the most valued of the autumn trees. In good conditions it grows to around Ten metres. Not many plants ask so little and repay so much.
Science & Biotechnology
Seed science, comparative botany and horticultural selection all touch on Nyssa sinensis, a representative of the tupelo family with clear practical value. The Chinese tupelo has a real and growing place in the research. Modern propagation practice has made this species straightforward to raise by ordinary good methods.
Uses & Benefits
Gardeners value Chinese Tupelo for its ornamental character, and the plant also fits naturally into herb, vegetable and cutting gardens. Ecologically, the Chinese tupelo is a generous tree of the garden. Its small, greenish flowers feed bees and insects, and its small, dark-blue fruits feed birds, while its broad, leafy crown gives a fine shade and a shelter through the summer. In autumn it becomes clear centre of garden, its whole crown catching fire in orange and red before leaves fall to make a soft carpet beneath. Getting it going is easy; keeping it going is easier still.
Tupelo trees give the finest, slowest-crystallizing honey in America and unrivaled scarlet autumn color; they are wetland healers and bird feeders.
Growing from Seed
Raising Chinese Tupelo from seed is straightforward. Sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly into a loose, well-drained seed compost, water in gently, and keep the sowing in bright light with steady moisture. Prick the seedlings out once they are large enough to handle, grow them on in bright light, and plant out when conditions allow.
Our Take
At around ten metres, it stays at a scale that suits modest gardens. Once established, Chinese Tupelo largely looks after itself. Attention to moisture in the first weeks pays off; later, the plant is forgiving.
Related Reading
More species in the same orbit as Chinese Tupelo: