Tupelo trees are a group of deciduous trees belonging to the genus Nyssa, a genus native primarily to North America and especially well represented in the eastern and southeastern United States. The name “tupelo” is generally associated with trees that grow in forests, swamps, floodplains, and other wet environments, although not every tupelo requires saturated soil. The word itself is believed to have Native American origins, probably deriving from Creek words meaning “tree” and “swamp.”