Nyssa sylvatica is a medium to large-sized native tree, frequently 60 to 80 ft tall and 3 to 4 ft in diameter. It typically has dense foliage with a conical crown on straight trunk. The simple, alternate leaves are leathery, and densely clustered at the branchlets. The small greenish white flowers are borne singly or in clusters. The bark is reddish brown and broken into deep irregular ridges and diamond-shaped plates.

Distribution: Blackgum grows from Maine west to New York, extreme southern Ontario, central Michigan, Illinois, central Missouri, and south to central Florida.