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 7–10Climate Temperate

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — The American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) thrives in zones 5-9

Culture

Sun: Full
Water: Medium
USDA zones: 7–10

Shape & size

Classification

Family: Hamamelidaceae
Climate: Temperate

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Photos (150)

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 52

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — Notable for its star-shaped leaves and vibrant fall colors, it prefers full sun and moist, image 53

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — Its spiky gumballs can be a maintenance issue; tree for full, image 54

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — Provides excellent shade but root system can disrupt pavements; is a captivating deciduous tree, image 55

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — It's deciduous, with a moderate to fast growth rate; which adds a textural element to the landscape, image 56

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — is a captivating deciduous tree renowned for its stunning fall coloration and distinctive spiky, image 57

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — Growing to an impressive height of 60 to 75 feet; notable for its star-shaped leaves and vibrant, image 58

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — with a canopy spread of 40 to 50 feet; this tree presents a pyramidal form in its youth that becomes, image 59

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — this tree presents a pyramidal form in its youth that becomes more rounded with maturity; it thrives, image 60

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — Its star-shaped leaves are a luscious green throughout spring and summer; clients will enjoy a, image 61

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — transforming into a kaleidoscope of yellows; it's deciduous, with a moderate to fast growth rate, image 62

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — and purples in the fall.<br><br>One notable feature of the Sweet Gum is its corky bark, image 63

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — which adds a textural element to the landscape during the leaf-off season; persists through winter, image 64

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) — tolerating even clay soils; with a canopy spread of 40 to 50 feet, image 66

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — It thrives in full sun, requiring at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight per day, image 67

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) — ensuring there is ample space for growth.<br><br>The tree's fruit; provides excellent shade but root, image 69

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — persists through winter and can pose a litter nuisance if planted near walkways or frequented areas, image 70

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — the leaves and twigs emit a fragrant resin when bruised; ensuring there is ample space for, image 71

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — contributing to its name and lending a sweet; the American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua), image 72

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — balsamic aroma to the garden space.<br><br>In choosing the American Sweet Gum for a landscape, image 73

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — clients will enjoy a majestic tree with year-round interest and a vivid seasonal display; but the, image 74

American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar Styraciflua) — The American Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) thrives in zones 5-9; its spiky gumballs can be a, image 76

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