Skip to content
Log inStart trial

Chinese Sweet Gum

Liquidambar Formosana

Design with this plant

Overview

Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar formosana) is a stately deciduous tree, admired for its pyramid shape and stunning fall colors. It can reach up to 80 feet tall and spreads 40 feet wide. The star-shaped leaves transition from lustrous green to vibrant red and purple hues in autumn. Prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Produces spiky fruit capsules and has a moderate growth rate. Zone: 7-9.

Sun FullWater HighZones 7–9Type TreeClimate Temperate
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — offering a commanding presence.<br><br>Foliage is a key feature; it can reach up to 80 feet tall and, image 64

Culture

Sun
Full
Water
High
USDA zones
7–9

Shape & size

Classification

Type
Tree
Family
Altingiaceae
Climate
Temperate

See full data, regional cultivation notes, and design tools. Build a client presentation around this plant.

Start your 14-day trial

Photos (92)

Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — green and yellow flowers in the garden; this stately tree can reach heights of 40 to 60 feet with a canopy spread
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — which transform from a lustrous green to a kaleidoscope of red
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — tree with green and yellow blooms; the tree produces inconspicuous yellowish-green flowers in the spring
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — Prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — preferring full sun to partial shade and moist; offering a commanding presence.<br><br>Foliage is a key feature
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — The star-shaped leaves transition from lustrous green to vibrant red and purple hues in autumn; tree, image 56
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — admired for its pyramid shape and stunning fall colors; its pyramidal form in youth matures into a, image 54
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar formosana) is a stately deciduous tree; the star-shaped leaves, image 53
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — and is moderately drought-tolerant once established.<br><br>When considering this tree for landscape, image 71
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — tree for full; but the seasonal beauty and shade benefits can outweigh this concern for many clients
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — Its pyramidal form in youth matures into a rounded crown; its autumn litter requires maintenance, image 63
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — Produces spiky fruit capsules and has a moderate growth rate; with leaves growing 4 to 7 inches long, image 58
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — which transform from a lustrous green to a kaleidoscope of red; preferring full sun to partial shade and moist
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — This stately tree can reach heights of 40 to 60 feet with a canopy spread of 20 to 30 feet; is a, image 61
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — which transform from a lustrous green to a kaleidoscope of red; preferring full sun to partial shade, image 66
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — Produces spiky fruit capsules and has a moderate growth rate; with leaves growing 4 to 7 inches long
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar formosana) is a stately deciduous tree
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — and orange hues in the fall
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — Prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil; produces spiky fruit capsules and has a moderate growth rate
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — scientifically named Liquidambar formosana; bear in mind its sizable root system
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — its autumn litter requires maintenance; which means it should be planted at least 15 feet away from paved surfaces
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — The tree produces inconspicuous yellowish-green flowers in the spring; prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — which means it should be planted at least 15 feet away from paved surfaces to prevent any disruption; which
Chinese Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Formosana) — which means it should be planted at least 15 feet away from paved surfaces to prevent any disruption
Photographs by 13 contributors

Related plants

20Th Century Pear (Pyrus Pyrifolia 'Nijisseiki') — Revered for its prolific white blooms in spring and lustrous green foliage

Tree

20Th Century Pear

Pyrus Pyrifolia 'Nijisseiki'

FullUSDA 4–8
Accolade Elm (Ulmus 'Morton' Accolade&trade;) — It thrives in USDA Zones 5-8, in full sun to partial shade, and is adaptable to varied soil types

Tree

Accolade Elm

Ulmus 'Morton' Accolade&trade;

FullUSDA 4–9
Acoma Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia Indica 'Acoma') — Drought and mildew resistant, it's an ideal choice for accent planting in USDA zones 6-9

Tree

Acoma Crape Myrtle

Lagerstroemia Indica 'Acoma'

FullUSDA 6–9
Acrocona Dwarf Spruce (Picea Abies 'Acrocona') — this slow-growing tree thrives in full sun to partial shade

Conifer

Acrocona Dwarf Spruce

Picea Abies 'Acrocona'

FullUSDA 4–7
Afghan Pine (Pinus Eldarica) — is a versatile and robust conifer well-suited to arid and semi-arid climates

Conifer

Afghan Pine

Pinus Eldarica

FullUSDA 7–10
African Fern Pine (Afrocarpus Gracilior) — creating a soft texture that can soften the sterner lines of urban architecture

Tree

African Fern Pine

Afrocarpus Gracilior

FullUSDA 9–10