Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweetgum, American Sweetgum)
Sweetgum is a tall, deciduous tree native to parts of the eastern United States, Mexico, and Central America. It has glossy, star-shaped leaves that change color in fall. Some trees have corky projections on their branches. It is susceptible to surface rooting, so plant trees several meters from curbs and streets. Its fruits are spiny and painful to step on. It grows easily from seed, which also provide food for wildlife. It adapts to many different environments, but does poorly in shallow, dry soil and alkaline soils.
- Landscape Information
- Botanical Description
- Horticulture Management
-
By Ikmo-ned (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
-
By Kurt Stüber [1] [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
-
By Photo (c)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) (Self-photographed) [GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
-
-
By KENPEI (KENPEIs photo) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.1-jp (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.1/jp/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons
-
Search plant on Google
Download as PDF
-
French Name: Liquidambar, Styrax d'Amérique, Copalme d'Amérique
Pronunciation: ick-wid-AM-bar sty-rass-ih-FLOO-uh
-
Plant type: Tree
-
Origin: Eastern United States, Mexico, Central America
-
Heat Zones: 1 to 10
Hardiness Zones: 4 to 10
-
Uses: Specimen, Shade, Wildlife, Street, Pollution Tolerant / Urban, Reclamation
-
Size/Shape
Growth Rate: Moderate
Tree Shape: Pyramidal, oval
Canopy Symmetry: Symmetrical
Canopy Density: Medium
Canopy Texture: Coarse
Height at Maturity: 8 to 15 m, 15 to 23 m
Spread at Maturity: 8 to 10 meters
Time to Ultimate Height: More than 50 Years
-
By Ikmo-ned (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
-
By Kurt Stüber [1] [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
-
By Photo (c)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) (Self-photographed) [GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
-
-
By KENPEI (KENPEIs photo) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.1-jp (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.1/jp/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons
-
Search plant on Google
Download as PDF
-
Foliage
Leaf Arrangement : Alternate
Leaf Venation: Palmate
Leaf Persistance: Deciduous
Leaf Type: Simple
Leaf Blade: 10 - 20
Leaf Shape: Star
Leaf Margins: Serrate
Leaf Texture: Glossy, Medium
Leaf Scent: Pleasant
Color(growing season): Green
Color(changing season): Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple
-
Flower
Flower Size Range: 0 - 1.5
Flower Type: Raceme
Flower Sexuality: Monoecious (Bisexual)
Flower Scent: No Fragance
Flower Color: Green, Yellow
Seasons: Spring
-
Trunk
Trunk has Crownshaft: No
Trunk Susceptibility to Breakage: Generally resists breakage
Number of Trunks: Single Trunk
Trunk esthetic Values: Not Showy
-
Fruit
Fruit Type: Capsule
Fruit Showiness: Yes
Fruit Size Range: 3 - 7
Fruit Color: Brown
Seasons: Spring
-
By Ikmo-ned (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
-
By Kurt Stüber [1] [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], via Wikimedia Commons
-
By Photo (c)2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) (Self-photographed) [GFDL 1.2 (http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/fdl-1.2.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
-
-
By KENPEI (KENPEIs photo) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC-BY-SA-2.1-jp (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.1/jp/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons
-
Search plant on Google
Download as PDF
-
Tolerance
Frost Tolerant: Yes
Salt Tolerance: Moderate
-
Requirements
Soil Requirements: Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Ph Requirements: Acidic, Neutral
Water Requirements: Moderate
Light Requirements: Full, Part
-
Management
Susceptibility to Pests and Diseases: No
Pruning Requirements: Little needed, to develop a strong structure
Fruit/ Leaves/ Flowers litter: Yes
Surface Rooting: Yes
Life Span: More than 50
Diseases: Leaf Spots, Canker, Dieback
Edible Parts: None
Pests: Caterpillars, Scales, Leaf Miner
Plant Propagation: Seed, Cutting