It's No Shrinking violet.
American sweetgum is a bold and colourful shade tree.
Immature trees have an oval canopy.
As trees age, their canopy rounds.
Green seed husks turn brown and release seeds at maturity.
After leaf drop, their odd corky stems are revealed.
Corky wings align along stems.
Green husks contain may seeds within.
Inconspicuous flowers emerge in spring before leaves emerge.
Deep crimson leaves provide contrast to the green seed husks.
A row of sweet gum trees line parking lot in North Delta.
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Common Name: American sweetgum
Botanical Name: Liquidambar styraciflua Form: upright with pyramidal canopy that matures to an oval rounded Family: Altingiaceae Genus: Liquidambar Species: styraciflua Plant Type: deciduous tree Mature Size: 60’ to 80’ x 40’ to 60’ Growth: medium to fast Origin: USA, Mexico, Central America Hardiness Zone: 5 to 9 Foliage: deep green, 4-7” wide, glossy, toothed margins, 5-7 pointed, star-shaped lobes, fragrant when crushed, long petioles, brilliant fall colours in hues of orange, purple, red and yellow Flowers: non-showy, monoecious, chartreuse held in clusters, April, May Fruit: gum balls, hard, round with bristles, 1-5 inches wide, green mature to brown Stems: immature stems bear corky ridges Exposure: 6 hours of direct sun a day minimum for good fall colour Soil: prefers acidic, well-drained Uses: lumber, fall colour, shade tree, specimen tree, the gum was used as chewing gum, perfume, herbal remedies, incense, perfume Propagation: seeds, softwood cuttings Pruning: in winter when dormant, pruning not needed, don’t prune to reduce size, remove dead, diseased etc. Problems: no serious pests, chlorotic in alkaline soils, needs space to grow, gum balls are hazardous to walk on and messy Comments: Sweet gum trees are known for their good bones and brilliant fall colours. Their broad leafy 60’ wide canopies make them suitable shade trees for gardens that have lots of space. They are bold specimens with deeply furrowed grey bark, hence their nickname ‘aligatorwood’. Even the younger stems often have corky growths growing along their length. This gives the trees a unique, albeit, a haunted appearance, but only after the leaves have fallen. Note that the amount of corky growths on American sweetgum branches differs from tree to tree. Some have none and some may have it on new stems, but it's not uncommon for an entire tree to be covered. Sweetgum trees are often mistaken for maples because they both have star shaped foliage and both turn brilliant colours in the fall. As an added bonus, their leaves have a lovely fragrance when handled. Although sweet gums have many desirable qualities, their fruit make it a messy tree. Green spikey 1-to-5-inch husks hold winged seeds inside. Upon maturity in late fall, the husks turn brown and fall from the tree, and unfortunately, they are uncomfortable to walk on. There are numerous cultivars available:
Trees have a distinctive look when not in leaf.
Sweet gums often have different shades of colours displayed at the same time.
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