Meyers Spruce vs Black Gum - TreeTime.ca

Meyers Spruce vs Black Gum

Picea meyeri

Nyssa sylvatica

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Meyers Spruce
Black Gum

Meyer's Spruce is a popular accent tree with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. This tree resembles Blue Spruce with its flaking bark and bluish-green needles. Meyer's Spruce can tolerate very dry conditions. This species is deer resistant.

Black Gum is a slow-growing ornamental shade tree with a dense pyramidal shape. The foliage is dark green in the summer, and transitions to bright fall colours which include red, orange, purple, and gold. It is commonly used as an ornamental tree in parks and large gardens as a specimen or shade tree.

The small greenish white flowers provide nectar for bees and black tupelo honey is a sought after flavour. The small dark blue fruits which ripen in late summer will attract birds and other animals to your yard. The fruits are edible, but very sour, and are primarily used for pies, flavouring, and drinks. Plant the Black Gum where it will live long-term, as it has a large taproot and does not transplant well.

Meyers Spruce Quick Facts

Black Gum Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 3a
Height: 27 m (90 ft)
Height: 12 m (40 ft)
Spread: 9 m (30 ft)
Spread: 8 m (25 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: any
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: slow
Life span: long
Life span: long
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium


Fall colour: purple, orange, yellow, red
Bark: grey-brown with irregular flaking
Berries: dark blue
Flavor: sour
Harvest: september to october
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: chinese blue spruce
Other Names: black tupelo, pepperidge tree, sour gum, tupelo