Sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua
Deciduous TreeAbout Sweetgum
Sweetgum is a large, attractive deciduous tree known for its star-shaped leaves and exceptional fall color ranging from yellow to deep burgundy. It is often planted as a shade tree, though its spiky, round seed balls can be a nuisance. The fragrant resin has been used historically in chewing gum and medicine.
Quick Facts
How to Identify Sweetgum
- Star-shaped leaves with 5-7 pointed lobes, similar to maple but alternate
- Spiky, round, golf-ball-sized seed balls hanging on long stalks
- Deeply furrowed, gray-brown bark
- Corky, winged ridges on young twigs
- Conical to rounded crown; multi-colored fall foliage
Care Guide
- Choose fruitless cultivars like 'Rotundiloba' to avoid seed ball litter
- Water regularly during the first few years of establishment
- Prune in late winter; avoid pruning in spring due to sap flow
- Surface roots can be problematic in lawns; mulch over them
- Tolerant of wet soils and periodic flooding
Known Issues (0)
No known health issues currently reported for Sweetgum.
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