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Black Gum

Black gum is native to eastern North America from Ontario, Canada to Mexico. Also known as the Black Tupelo, the deciduous tree is medium-sized, reaching a mature height of 40 feet. Black gum trees are mostly found growing in wetlands areas, but can adapt to a wide variety of regions. The leaves of the tree are extremely glossy and in fall turn from a purple to a fiery scarlet red. The wood is hard and difficult to split, resulting in its use as durable handles for hand tools. Black gum trees produce fruit that are an important food source for many migrating birds in the fall.