James H. Schutte
Family
Hamamelidaceae
Botanical Name
LIQUIDAMBAR styraciflua
Plant Common Name
American Sweetgum
General Description
The spiny fruits, palmate foliage and stark appearance of the American sweetgum are all unmistakable. This impressive tall, deciduous tree is native to the central and southeastern United States from New York to Florida and across to Texas. Specimens are also said to grow into Mexico and Central America. Sweetgum is an incredibly adaptable hardwood that’s able to thrive in both lowland and upland sites. It is both fast growing and strong wooded and develops an oval to rounded canopy when mature, though younger tree have a more erect form.
The distinctive palmate leaves of sweetgum have straight, pointy lobes. These are typically glossy green in summer and turn brilliant shades of yellow, red and purple in autumn. In more southern zones, the fall color is not as brilliant. Inconspicuous greenish yellow flowers appear in spring and are followed by spiny fruits that are commonly called “gumballs.” The spherical capsules turn from green to brown and persist on the branches into winter before they gradually drop. Its furrowed bark adds marginal winter interest.
American sweetgum grows best in full sun exposures. It is highly adaptable to a wide range of soil types and topographies from clay to sand and uplands to swamplands, though it tends to grow best in slightly acid soils with good organic matter and average drainage. It has few pest and disease problems. Its main troubles are due to its prolific messy fruits that are painful to step on barefooted, slow to decompose and release seed that readily germinates.
This is a lovely shade tree for natural areas, large landscapes and parks. It is not advisable to plant wild-type specimens as street trees or near a public areas and playgrounds but the sterile cultivar ‘Rotundiloba’ is suitable as it does not produce fruit. Other notable cultivars include ‘Palo Alto’, which has bright red fall foliage and ‘Variegata’, which has green leaves with streaks and blotches of yellow.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
10 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
4 - 10
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Sunset Zone
3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
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Plant Type
Tree
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun
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Height
60'-100' / 18.3m - 30.5m (70)
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Width
20'-25' / 6.1m - 7.6m (20)
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Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
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Native To
Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico, Central America
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
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Soil Drainage
Average
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Soil type
Clay, Loam, Sand
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Tolerances
Wet Site, Pollution, Drought, Soil Compaction
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Growth Rate
Medium
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Water Requirements
Drought Tolerant, Average Water
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Habit
Oval/Rounded
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
Insignificant
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Flower Color
Yellow Green
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Fruit Color
Green, Tan, Brown
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Foliage Color (Spring)
Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Summer)
Green, Dark Green
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Foliage Color (Fall)
Yellow, Red, Purple, Orange, Dark Red
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Bark Color
Sandy Brown, Gray
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
Yes
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Medium
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Foliage Sheen
Glossy
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
