Black Gum trees prefer acidic soil and are often found growing in swampy areas. The trees have an asymmetrical branch structure and tower above most trees, reaching 80-90' at maturity. Usually, the Black Gum Tree will be one of the first to show color change in early Fall and the red leaves of the Black Gum are thin and translucent in autumn, giving the tree a beautiful glow in the sunlight. The Black Gum Tree grows 90 Ft. tall in wet areas and is never bothered by pests, and is a medium to fast-growing tree, and has spectacular fall-colors, that is found throughout the East and Central States.

The leaves of the Black Gum Tree turn red or purple in fall, followed by small black berries, which wildlife animals love to eat, and the tree can grow huge in the wettest of soils but does not grow quite as tall on drier land. The Black Gum Tree is also called the Sour Gum Tupelo, and a rare tree to find in nurseries. Especially noted in the south, the Black Gum tree turns bright colors of yellow, red, and maroon in the fall.