Forum™ Black Gum (Tupelo)

A landmark selection that brought consistency and refined form to one of North America's most valuable native trees. Forum is highly regarded for its exceptional structure and reliability in the landscape. This improved selection addresses the traditional challenges of the species—particularly the inconsistent form of seedlings—while preserving the outstanding wildlife value and adaptability that make blackgums indispensable in ecological landscaping. Commercial cultivars, such as Forum are male and will not produce fruit.

'Forum' distinguishes itself with a strong central leader and symmetrical, pyramidal habit that develops naturally without extensive pruning. The horizontal branching emerges at nearly right angles from the trunk, creating an architectural elegance that is both structurally sound and aesthetically pleasing. This growth pattern makes the tree far less prone to storm damage or splitting than many other shade trees. Unlike typical blackgum seedlings, which often exhibit floppy, irregular form in youth, 'Forum' maintains its shape from an early age and grows faster than the species, making it an excellent choice for both residential and commercial landscapes. Introduced by Tree Introductions, Inc., Athens GA, 'Forum' was the first commercially successful blackgum cultivar and remains highly sought after [1].

The glossy, dark green foliage provides a handsome backdrop through summer before transforming into a spectacular display of yellow, orange, and red in fall. While some newer cultivars boast more intensely red fall color, 'Forum' offers consistently good autumn performance that reliably signals the changing season. The leaves emerge relatively late in spring, helping to avoid damage from late frosts. As the tree matures, the bark develops the characteristic deeply furrowed, blocky texture often described as "alligator hide," adding significant winter interest to the landscape.

The ecological value of blackgums cannot be overstated, and 'Forum' delivers all the wildlife benefits of the native species. In late spring, small greenish-white flowers appear as the leaves unfold, providing critical nectar for native bees and honeybees. The famous tupelo honey, prized for its rich, buttery flavor and light floral notes, comes from these blossoms. The tree also serves as a larval host for numerous native moths and butterflies. As blackgums age, they often develop hollow trunks while remaining structurally sound, providing valuable cavity nesting sites for owls, woodpeckers, and other wildlife [2].

'Forum' exhibits the remarkable adaptability that characterizes the species. While it prefers moist, acidic, well-drained soils, it tolerates both wet sites with poor drainage and drier upland conditions once established. The tree performs exceptionally well in compacted urban soils with low oxygen levels—conditions that challenge many other species—making it an outstanding choice for parking lots, streetscapes, and other difficult sites. It is also moderately salt-tolerant and pollution-tolerant. The strong taproot provides excellent wind resistance and drought tolerance after establishment, though young trees benefit from consistent moisture during their first growing season.

Site 'Forum' in full sun to partial shade, where it will develop the most intense fall color with greater sun exposure. This cultivar works beautifully as a specimen tree, shade tree, or in naturalized areas. The clean growth habit and minimal fruiting mess (most cultivars are male) make it suitable for parking areas and street tree plantings in suburban settings. Like all blackgums, it should be planted young and in a permanent location, as the taproot makes transplanting difficult later. Once established, the tree requires minimal maintenance and is naturally deer-resistant.

[1] Dirr, Manual of Woody Landscape Plants, 6th ed., 2009.
[2] https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/nyssa-sylvatica/

General care for any tree or shrub is easy, but like any living thing will require your attention. Please educate yourself and follow these simple rules.