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Sweet
Gum
Liquidambar styraciflua
 
|
|
Description:
Be sure not to prune your Sweet Gum in fall because the seeds of the species
provide good food for wildlife including cardinals, morning doves, and blue jays!
The tree leafs out early in the spring and is occasionally damaged by frost. Be
careful when planting Sweetgum since its large, aggressive roots may lift curbs and
sidewalks. |
| Common
Name: |
Sweet Gum, American/Red Sweet Gum |
| Botanical
Name: |
Liquidambar styraciflua |
| Type: |
Deciduous Tree |
| Soil
Preference: |
Liquidambar
tolerates some drought, occasional wetness and some salt and is sensitive to
ozone. It will also grow in dry to occasionally wet soil but prefers soil that
is is well-drained, loamy, sandy or clay with a pH of acidic to slightly alkaline (6.8 -
7.7) |
Light
Requirements: |
Sun, Light Shade |
| Attributes: |
 The seeds of the species provide good food for wildlife including cardinals,
morning doves, and blue jays. |
| Pests: |
Bagworm, fall webworm, leaf
miner, cottony-cushion scale, and tent caterpillars. Ambrosia beetle can attack even
healthy trees; they tend to attack as trees emerge from dormancy. |
| Diseases: |
Trunk Canker, Bacterial Leaf
Scorch. No cure for either disease. This tree is also sensitive to damge from
ozone pollution. Symptoms are flecking on the upper side of the leaves between the
large veins. The small spots or flecks are white, tan or orange-red. If you
suspect that pollution is damaging your tree, locate the nearest White Pines to see if
they are damaged also. White Pines serve as indicators of a high concentration of
damaging ozone since they are very sensitive to it's damage. |
Care: |
Prune after flowering if necessary. Fertilize with
Plant-tone or Holly-tone approximately April 1st, May 20th, July 4th, August 15th &
October 30th. Keep granular fertilizers off foliage and away from stems and
trunks. Use 1/2 the recommended rate of fertilizer for new plantings. Planting
Instructions: Trees & Shrubs |
| Varieties: |
Click on image to view larger size |
Liquidambar
styraciflua
Sweet Gum
zones 5b-9b
|
| Description: Dark, glossy green foliage turns yellow, red and orange in
fall. Pyramidal shape with shapely crown. |
| Bloom Color: |
none |
| Bloom Time: |
n/a |
| Foliage Color: |
Dark Green |
| Height: |
60-75' |
| Spread: |
35-50' |
|
Click on image to view larger size |
Liquidambar
styraciflua 'Rotundiloba'
Sweet Gum
zones 6b-9a
|
Description: Unique foliage has rounded lobes, unlike
 other Sweetgums.
This handsome shade or street tree has a narrow form in youth, more rounded with
age. Fast growing and seedless. Is a good choice for urban landscapes where
the dropping fruit of the species would be a nuisance. |
| Bloom Color: |
none |
| Bloom Time: |
n/a |
| Foliage Color: |
Green |
| Height: |
40-50' |
| Spread: |
25-30' |
|
Click on image to view larger size |
Liquidambar
styraciflua 'Variegata'
Variegated Sweet Gum
zones 6-9
|
| Description: Variegated leaves of yellow and green. |
| Bloom Color: |
none |
| Bloom Time: |
n/a |
| Foliage Color: |
Yellow and Green Variegated |
| Height: |
25-30' |
| Spread: |
15-20' |
|
