Nyssa sylvatica – black gum, black tupelo is a Kentucky native tree grown for its brilliant burgundy, red, orange and yellow fall foliage and tremendous adaptability. Plants perform well in poorly-drained and heavy soils making them ideal for tough sites. Summer foliage on the better forms is deep lustrous green, changing to beautiful mixed color displays in autumn. Female plants produce inedible oblong drupe fruit in mid-summer. Some improved forms include ‘Haymanred’ (Red Rage™) with glossy leaves and good leaf spot resistance introduced by Arborist Mike Hayman of Louisville's Seneca Gardens Arboretum, ‘Wildfire’ with burgundy new summer foliage introduced by Steve Hottovy, Beyond Green LLC, 7194 S Barnards Rd, Canby , OR 97013-9505; office, 503.263.6006 and even contorted and weeping selections such as 'Autumn Cascade' that was discovered as a chance seedling in Australia by Arnold Teese, owner of Yamina Rare Plants, and introduced in the United States by Dick Jaynes of Broken Arrow Nursery, 13 Broken Arrow Rd. Hamden, CT 06518 Phone: 203.288.1026 Fax: 203.287.1035 . The plant above is 'McNiel's Weeper', selected and named by University of Kentucky Professor Win Dunwell from a group of seedling trees grown from seed of native Kentucky trees given to the UKREC Botanic Garden by UK Professor Bob McNiel. The species occurs in the wild and gardens throughout the state. Cultivars can be found in  Louisville’s Cherokee Park, White Hall, and Seneca Gardens and as young plants at the UKREC Botanic Garden.