Tupelo Tower Black Sour Gum Tupelo Tree

Nyssa sylvatica ‘WFH1’, sold as Tupelo Tower™, is a narrow black tupelo with a strong central leader and columnar branches. Its glossy green foliage turns orange and red in autumn, and the slender crown is useful where a broader shade tree would be difficult to place. The plant patent identifies the cultivar denomination as WFH1, while [Bold Spring’s exact Tupelo Tower page](https://www.boldspring.com/trees/ntt-std) gives mature estimates of 30–40 feet tall and 18–20 feet wide. ## Site and form Plant in full sun to light shade in average or moist soil. The columnar outline is the selection’s defining feature; its branches turn upward close to the central stem. The patent description records USDA hardiness zone 4b, while [Trees and Shrubs Online](https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/nyssa/nyssa-sylvatica/) gives zone 4 for the species. No upper USDA limit is established by these sources. A [Seattle urban-tree profile](https://www.seattle.gov/trees/trees-for-neighborhoods/past-plantings/tupelo-tower-black-tupelo) also describes the cultivar’s narrow shape and suitability for a tight planting strip. ## Seasonal interest Leaves emerge glossy green and develop orange-red autumn color. The female flowers are small and appear in mid-spring; fertilized flowers can produce blue-black drupes. These details are documented in the [WFH1 plant patent](https://patents.justia.com/patent/PP22976). ## Maintenance Choose a site with adequate height and root space for a large tree. Water during establishment and extended dry periods. Preserve the central leader and narrow crown with only selective pruning when needed; avoid frequent shearing that would obscure the natural columnar form.