Brandon Cedar vs Black Gum - TreeTime.ca

Brandon Cedar vs Black Gum

Thuja occidentalis Brandon

Nyssa sylvatica

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Brandon Cedar
Black Gum

The Brandon Cedar is a columnar evergreen with soft, dense foliage that retains its bright green color all year round. It makes for a great vertical accent on your property or as part of a hedge, it is suitable for urban gardens due to its size and it is highly shade tolerant.

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.

Brandon Cedar Quick Facts

Black Gum Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 3a
Height: 4 m (12 ft)
Height: 12 m (40 ft)
Spread: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 8 m (25 ft)
Light: shade, partial shade
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: slow
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: long
Suckering: none
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Fall colour: purple, orange, yellow, red
Berries: dark blue
Flavor: sour
Harvest: september to october
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: ON
Other Names: brandon arborvitae
Other Names: black tupelo, pepperidge tree, sour gum, tupelo