Black Gum Pollen Color, Bloom Season and Bee Forage

Visual guideBlack Gum pollen

Photo: Famartin · CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Facts

SeasonSpring to Summer

USDA Zone4 - 9

Plant TypeTree

ForagePollen and nectar

Pollen ValueLow

Nectar ValueHigh

Color FamilyOrange and amber

Scientific NameNyssa sylvatica

Common NamesBlack gum, Black tupelo, Sour gum

Native RegionsEastern United States, Southern Ontario

Range StatusNative to eastern North America.

Color ConfidenceModerate

Color MethodA North Carolina beekeeper bloom chart assigns black gum pollen the approximate field-guide swatch #F7DC6F.

Reviewed2026-10-11

Quick Answer

Black Gum pollen is shown in this guide as an orange and amber tone. It is listed as tree, associated with spring to summer bloom timing, USDA zone 4 - 9, and pollen and nectar forage value.

Pollen Color Notes

The visual color shown for Black Gum is grouped broadly with orange and amber pollen tones. It is intended for comparison and identification support, not as a laboratory measurement.

Pollen color is highly variable. Lighting, pollen age, moisture, collection method, cultivar, and local growing conditions can all change how pollen appears. Use this as general visual guidance, not a scientific color standard or guaranteed field match.

Bloom, Zone, and Forage Context

Black Gum is listed for spring to summer. The record lists USDA zone 4 - 9; hardiness zones are planning context, not a precise flowering calendar. Approximate bloom months in the supplemental notes: April, May, June.

Its forage type is pollen and nectar, with pollen value marked as low and nectar value marked as high. Black gum can provide spring nectar and pollen; its importance varies regionally and should not be confused with water tupelo honey sources.