It looks like you've got a nice suburban lot, but I don't think I'd plant more than two of any species. Where are you at?

Suburban Philadelphia. Yeah it’s one of the bigger lots in my neighborhood. Why do you suggest no more than 2 of any species ?

It’s the horticultural version of not throwing all your eggs in one basket. I’ll admit I’d be tempted to plant nothing but Nyssa after seeing the tree Sam posted, but there are so many choices at your waiting in the botanically rich Philly region. If you’ve never visited Scott Arb, I highly recommend it. You’ll find a treasure of nice trees to consider. BTW, I’m a huge fan of Kentucky Coffee Tree.

You're way ahead of me! I just got some Nyssa sylvatica seeds :)

And go to the Morris! And Chanticleer. And the Grounds for Sculpture (it's in NJ; you'll have to 'slum') (sez this Jersey girl).

I just moved into a house about a mile from the Scott Arboretum and love walking around there, and hope they reopen to visitors soon.

There is a huge black gum tree shading my back yard right now, it's absolutely beautiful. I never new of them prior to this house but now it's my favorite tree.

I also have a pretty nice shagbark hickory and sassafras further back in the backyard. The hickory is nice but can be a mess in the fall but the sassafras is lovely all around.

^^

What she said.

all the stakes .. btw.. congrats... you ought to be happy ...

anyway.. the stakes look like shipping stakes ... barely a couple inches above the dormant tree that was sent from the grower ... and they are strapped on too tight ...

they will need to be removed before spring growth starts expanding the trunk in spring...

if you think you need staking lets discuss why you think that.. and what to do about it ...

in the plant world.. plagues come and go over the decades ... tree time ... and you dont want to be caught with all of one thing ... and lose them all .. ergo.. you diversify your planting to avoid such ...

you may have been better off putting these two at the ends.. and the odd ball in the middle.. but whatever ... if just planted.. this would be the time to move the middle one ... and you already have the hole for the next one ... totally up to you ...

ken

I was at the Morris arboretum a couple moths ago ! I went specifically to look at the nyssas in mature form and that was the icing on the cake for me to commit to putting them in the yard ! I will check out the other places you mentioned as well!

Black gum at shore of Raystown Lake, south-central PA:

Ken I plan on taking them off in the spring. They aren’t doing much but they should do enough for now because this is a wind tunnel back here. The straps are rubber and not causing any damage to the tree for now so spring they will go. Wether or not is stake the tree will be determined by how it does next year without any. I’ve heard people say the tree will adjust to its environment and become stronger without them. We will see though.