Afterburner Tupelo

Afterburner Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica 'Afterburner') is a deciduous tree grown for one thing above all: the autumn display, when the glossy summer foliage turns a hard, luminous red. It is an upright, narrow selection reaching about 8m tall and 4m wide, so it gives a proper canopy tree to a garden that cannot spare the room for one. The roots are deep and non invasive, making it one of the safer large trees near paving.

Why you'll love it

• Red autumn colour you can rely on. This selection was chosen for the intensity and consistency of its colour, which seedling tupelos rarely deliver.
• Tall and narrow. At roughly 8m by 4m it shades a courtyard or a driveway without the spreading crown of an oak or a plane.
• Roots that behave. Deep tap rooted rather than surface running, so it can be planted near paths, driveways and paving with confidence.
• Handles wet ground and cold. Tupelos grow naturally in swampy country, so it tolerates the soggy corner where most trees drown, and it is frost hardy through hard southern winters.
• Quietly good for bees. The flowers are small and easily missed, but bees work them steadily.

Where it works best

Feature and shade tree. One tree carries the autumn display for a whole garden. Site it where afternoon light comes through the canopy, which is when the colour is strongest.

Driveways and avenues. Allow 5m between trees for an avenue. The narrow crown means the row reads as a corridor rather than closing over the drive.

Damp and difficult corners. It suits drainage lines and heavy soils that stay wet in winter, where a conventional shade tree would decline.

Growing Afterburner Tupelo in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun for the best colour. This is a cool temperate and warm temperate tree, at home in Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, the tablelands and cooler parts of Perth and Sydney. It is frost hardy and needs winter chill to colour well, so subtropical and tropical gardens are not a good match.

Soil. Prefers moist, slightly acidic soil and tolerates both poor ground and periodic waterlogging. Avoid limey soils, which cause yellowing between the leaf veins.

Water and feed. Water deeply twice a week through the first two summers. It is not a drought tree, so dry inland gardens need summer soaking every year. A complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough.

Pruning. Keep it to a minimum. Remove crossing or damaged branches in winter while the tree is bare and let the natural upright shape develop on its own.

What to expect when it arrives

Afterburner Tupelo is supplied as an advanced tree in 45L. That gives you a well formed, single leadered tree with real height on day one. In winter it arrives bare of leaves, which is normal for a deciduous tree and not a fault.

Expect a settling season with modest growth, then steady extension once the tap root goes down, and the first strong autumn colour usually in the second season. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95 and a minimum order of $300 before delivery. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost, and every tree carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse trees and plants for autumn colour
• Compare the deciduous tree range
• Trees with non invasive roots
• Choosing trees to line a driveway

Common questions

Will it colour up in a warm climate?

Only partly. Cool nights drive the red, so cool temperate and cooler warm temperate districts get the full display and subtropical gardens see muted colour at best.

How close to paving can I plant it?

Closer than most trees of this size. The root system is deep and non invasive, so 2m from a path or driveway is reasonable, allowing for a mature width of about 4m.

Can it handle a wet spot in the garden?

Yes, better than almost any ornamental tree. It tolerates seasonal waterlogging and heavy soil, though water should eventually move away rather than stand permanently.