Sweetgum Plant
Profile
The American Sweetgum Tree (Liquidamber styraciflua) is an attractive tree that is native to
North America.
It has beautiful fall foliage and unique, spiny fruit balls.
The leaves have a camphor-like scent when crushed. The fruits are often called
gum balls. They dry out in the autumn and then fall to the ground in great
numbers. Crafters gather these balls to make holiday decorations and use them
in floral arrangements. If you do not care for the fruit drop, select
'Rotundiloba’, which is a non-fruiting cultivar.
Sweetgum trees are hardy to USDA Zones 5 to 9.
Plant it in full- to part sun. Fertilize and water the tree
consistently during the first few years after planting it. Once established, it
is drought-tolerant and no longer needs fertilizer.
It grows into a pleasing pyramid-like form naturally and
should not need any pruning—other than to remove any damaged or diseased branches.
The tree will grow to 50-80 feet high at maturity, but there
are some dwarf and smaller versions available as well.
Sweetgum: You Can Grow That!
The
video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant
Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.
Audio, text, and video/photos
by Kathy Jentz
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