‘Autumn Cascade’ is a weeping variety of the native Black tupelo tree. This particular tree was planted to provide the park with even more radiant fall foliage. Autumn Cascades are smaller than their tupelo relatives, growing up to around 30 feet tall. Commonly known as the tupelo or black-gum tree, during the summer months, their leaves turn a deep glossy green, while in the fall it blazes with an array of yellow, orange, red, and purple. 

Tupelos have an interesting, highly textured bark pattern made up of plates and ridges that deepen as the tree ages, developing a scaly appearance. They are dioecious trees, meaning they can have either male or female flowers. Tupelo trees do not produce showy flowers in the spring, but the flowers they do make are excellent for honey producing bees. Their fruits are dark blue when mature, and a food source for many animals including 35 species of caterpillar, the Eastern Bluebird, the Scarlet Tanager, and the Cedar Waxwing.