Skip to content
Log inStart trial

American Sweet Gum

Liquidambar Styraciflua

Design with this plant

Overview

The American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) thrives in zones 5-9, reaching up to 60-75 feet tall with a 40-50 feet spread. Notable for its star-shaped leaves and vibrant fall colors, it prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil. Its spiky gumballs can be a maintenance issue. Provides excellent shade but root system can disrupt pavements. It's deciduous, with a moderate to fast growth rate.

Sun FullWater MediumZones 7–10Type TreeClimate Temperate
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — contributing to its name and lending a sweet; the American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), image 147

Culture

Sun
Full
Water
Medium
USDA zones
7–10

Shape & size

Classification

Type
Tree
Family
Hamamelidaceae
Climate
Temperate

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

Start your 14-day trial

Photos (170)

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — landscape designers should note its potential size and root system when positioning it; balsamic, image 68
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — but the species is adaptable; reaching up to 60-75 feet tall with a 40-50 feet spread, image 65
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — clients will enjoy a majestic tree with year-round interest and a vivid seasonal display; but the, image 99
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — landscape designers should note its potential size and root system when positioning it; balsamic, image 143
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — It thrives in full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day, image 92
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — is a captivating deciduous tree renowned for its stunning fall coloration and distinctive spiky, image 132
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — landscape designers should note its potential size and root system when positioning it; balsamic aroma to the
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — reaching up to 60-75 feet tall with a 40-50 feet spread; its star-shaped leaves are a luscious green, image 102
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — is a captivating deciduous tree renowned for its stunning fall coloration and distinctive spiky, image 107
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — balsamic aroma to the garden space.<br><br>In choosing the American Sweet Gum for a landscape, image 148
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — persists through winter and can pose a litter nuisance if planted near walkways or frequented areas, image 45
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — transforming into a kaleidoscope of yellows
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — the leaves and twigs emit a fragrant resin when bruised; ensuring there is ample space for, image 146
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — Growing to an impressive height of 60 to 75 feet; notable for its star-shaped leaves and vibrant, image 108
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — is a captivating deciduous tree renowned for its stunning fall coloration and distinctive spiky, image 82
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — contributing to its name and lending a sweet; the American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), image 97
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — the leaves and twigs emit a fragrant resin when bruised; ensuring there is ample space for growth.<br><br>The
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — and purples in the fall.<br><br>One notable feature of the Sweet Gum is its corky bark, image 38
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — tolerating even clay soils; with a canopy spread of 40 to 50 feet
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — Provides excellent shade but root system can disrupt pavements; is a captivating deciduous tree, image 130
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — reaching up to 60-75 feet tall with a 40-50 feet spread; its star-shaped leaves are a luscious green, image 77
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — this tree presents a pyramidal form in its youth that becomes more rounded with maturity; it thrives, image 85
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — Its spiky gumballs can be a maintenance issue; tree for full, image 104
American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — Growing to an impressive height of 60 to 75 feet; notable for its star-shaped leaves and vibrant, image 133
Photographs by 9 contributors

Related plants

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua 'Burgundy') — with leaves turning vivid burgundy

Tree

American Sweet Gum

Liquidambar Styraciflua 'Burgundy'

FullUSDA 7–10
American Witch Hazel (Hamamelis Virginiana) — native to the eastern United States

Shrub

American Witch Hazel

Hamamelis Virginiana

FullUSDA 2–5
Arnold's Promise Witch Hazel (Hamamelis 'Arnold's Promise') — Arnold's Promise Witch Hazel (Hamamelis x intermedia 'Arnold's Promise') is a captivating

Shrub

Arnold's Promise Witch Hazel

Hamamelis 'Arnold's Promise'

FullUSDA 5–9
Blue Mist Dwarf Forthergilla (Fothergilla Gardenii 'Blue Mist') — The Blue Mist Dwarf Fothergilla (Fothergilla gardenii 'Blue Mist') is a compact deciduous

Shrub

Blue Mist Dwarf Forthergilla

Fothergilla Gardenii 'Blue Mist'

HalfUSDA 5–9
Blue Shadow Fothergilla (Fothergilla Gardenia 'Blue Shadow') — is a captivating deciduous shrub that presents a multi-season display

Shrub

Blue Shadow Fothergilla

Fothergilla Gardenia 'Blue Shadow'

FullUSDA 4–8
Burgundy Fringe Flower (Loropetalum Chinense 'Burgundy') — The Burgundy Fringe Flower (Loropetalum chinense 'Burgundy') is a striking evergreen shrub

Shrub

Burgundy Fringe Flower

Loropetalum Chinense 'Burgundy'

HalfUSDA 7–10