{"product_id":"nyssa-sylvatica-forum","title":"Nyssa sylvatica 'Forum'","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eForum Black Tupelo\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eNyssa sylvatica\u003c\/em\u003e 'Forum'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFamily:\u003c\/strong\u003e Nyssaceae\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Eastern North America\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deciduous feature tree\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOverview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNyssa sylvatica 'Forum' is an elite cultivar of the North American Black Tupelo, selected for its refined upright-conical habit and a guaranteed, repeatable autumn colour display that far outperforms variable seedling-grown plants. Where most deciduous trees turn a single shade, 'Forum' erupts in simultaneous scarlet, flame orange, rich gold and deep burgundy-purple — often multiple tones blazing on the same branch at once — with colour that holds on the tree for weeks rather than days, typically peaking in April and May across southern Australia. Unlike many choice autumn-colouring trees, it has the added practical virtue of tolerating clay soils and periods of wet feet, making it a genuinely versatile choice for South Australian gardens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMature Size:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10–15 m H x 5–8 m W\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGrowth Rate:\u003c\/strong\u003e Moderate to fast; 30–50 cm per year in South Australian conditions; upright conical habit with a strong central leader and naturally dense, self-symmetrical branching — no formative pruning required to maintain shape\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFoliage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Leaves emerge fresh mid-green in spring, deepening to a rich glossy dark green through summer; in autumn, a spectacular multi-colour transformation delivers simultaneous scarlet, flame orange, gold and deep burgundy-purple — colours often present on the same branch at once and holding for weeks, especially when cold nights follow warm sunny days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowers:\u003c\/strong\u003e Small, inconspicuous cream-green clusters appearing in spring; non-fragrant and not ornamentally significant, but followed by clusters of small oval blue-black drupes in late summer to autumn that are highly attractive to native birds\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSeasonal Interest:\u003c\/strong\u003e Outstanding four-season presence — fresh new growth in spring, a luxuriant glossy canopy in summer, a legendary multi-colour autumn spectacle peaking April–May in SA, and a striking architectural branch silhouette through winter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWildlife Value:\u003c\/strong\u003e Blue-black autumn drupes attract native fruit-eating birds including rosellas, silvereyes and currawongs; spring flower clusters visited by bees and other pollinators\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTolerance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fully frost hardy; clay-tolerant (performs well in Adelaide's heavier soils); tolerates periods of waterlogging; wind hardy; not drought-tolerant — requires reliable summer moisture in SA's Mediterranean climate; dislikes alkaline soil and root compaction\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlanting Density:\u003c\/strong\u003e Formal avenue or driveway planting: space 5–6 m (500–600 cm) apart for canopy development without overcrowding; garden or park specimen: allow a minimum 5 m (500 cm) clearance in all directions from buildings and paving — note this tree is best planted in its final position as the deep taproot makes transplanting difficult\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePet Friendly:\u003c\/strong\u003e Not listed as toxic to dogs or cats; the small blue-black autumn fruits may cause mild digestive upset if eaten in large quantities — clear fallen fruit accumulations from pet areas during autumn\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere It Works Best\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunlight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun delivers the richest autumn colour and most vigorous growth; tolerates part shade but may produce a less intense colour display and slightly more open canopy habit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil:\u003c\/strong\u003e Performs best in deep, moist, slightly acidic loam; tolerates clay soils and temporary waterlogging well; the deep taproot means no invasive surface root conflicts with paving — but it requires deep, uncompacted soil at planting to establish successfully; dislikes root restriction and alkaline conditions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWater Needs:\u003c\/strong\u003e Establishment (first 18 months): water deeply 2–3 times per week for the first 8 weeks, tapering to once weekly as roots extend; maintain consistent moisture through the first three summers. Established: summer — deep watering once per week, increasing to twice weekly during heatwaves and extended dry spells; winter — water only during prolonged dry periods; do not allow to dry completely in SA's hot summers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaintenance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Very low once established; remove dead, damaged or crossing branches in late winter dormancy; lift lower limbs as required for clearance; deep taproot system means no problematic surface roots near paving or structures; no trimming or topping required\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLifespan:\u003c\/strong\u003e 80–150+ years\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClimate Zones:\u003c\/strong\u003e Best suited to Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Mount Lofty Ranges and Clare Valley; performs well across temperate Adelaide plains with supplemental summer irrigation; autumn colour is most intense in cool-cold districts with cold autumn nights; marginal in hot, dry coastal SA positions without reliable watering; not suited to arid or tropical zones\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil pH:\u003c\/strong\u003e Prefers acid to mildly acid conditions, pH 4.5–6.5; performs poorly in alkaline soils above pH 7.0 — on Adelaide plains where soils trend alkaline, incorporate sulphur or acidifying compost at planting and mulch deeply with organic matter\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLandscape \u0026amp; Design Ideas\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlant as a single bold focal specimen in a generous open lawn or garden bed where the full autumn canopy can be appreciated from all angles — most dramatic when positioned against a dark evergreen hedge, stone wall or fence that throws the fiery multi-colour display into sharp relief\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUse in formal avenue plantings along driveways, garden paths or streetscapes at 5–6 m spacings; 'Forum's consistent conical habit makes it far superior for avenue work compared with variable seedling-grown Black Tupelo, delivering a uniform canopy line year after year\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLayer with other autumn-colouring deciduous trees — Liquidambar, Japanese Maple and Cercidiphyllum — to create an extended multi-week colour sequence; 'Forum' typically holds its leaves and colour later in the season, closing out the autumn display long after companions have dropped\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy You Will Love It\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you have ever wanted a single tree that stops passers-by in their tracks every April, 'Forum' Black Tupelo is the answer. This is no one-note performer — the blazing simultaneous show of scarlet, orange, gold and burgundy on a single tree is genuinely unlike anything else available for South Australian gardens, and it holds that display for weeks rather than the fleeting days of lesser selections. Tough enough for clay soils, well-behaved near paving, naturally self-symmetrical without any pruning, and built to last over a century — 'Forum' is a garden investment that rewards with extraordinary seasonal beauty, real wildlife value, and the quiet dignity of its bare-branch winter architecture, generation after generation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Adelaide Plant Co","offers":[{"title":"100L Grow Bag","offer_id":68039639138556,"sku":"NYSS-SYLV-FORU-100L-SO","price":630.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/9282\/0220\/files\/nyssa-sylvatica-forum-black-tupelo-100L-pot-adelaide-plant-co.jpg?v=1793412487","url":"https:\/\/adelaideplantco.com.au\/products\/nyssa-sylvatica-forum","provider":"Adelaide Plant Co","version":"1.0","type":"link"}