Sweet Gum Tree

Sweet Gum Tree

Sweet Gum Tree: Liquidambar styraciflua, or the sweet gum tree, is a tall, stately tree that performs well in the moderately warm USDA plant hardiness zones.

The sweet gum tree is a native species to North America, often occurring in nature in flood plains, near swamps of marshlands, or near river tributaries.

Although it can reach as much as 120 feet high, it generally averages approximately seventy feet at maturity. Gardeners and landscapers love this tree for its easy temper and the lack of care after the roots develop.

TN Nursery recommends the sweet gum tree for customers seeking a tall tree that will be heat-tolerant and drought-tolerant.

Another great reason to select the sweet gum tree is to help de-compact your soil. If you have compacted soil in your yard, the sweet gum tree loosens the ground with a shallower root system that grows wider than most trees--breaking up the soil as those roots strengthen.

Other common names for sweet gum tree

Some gardeners prefer other common names for Liquidambar styraciflua. Here are a few:

• American Sweet Gum
• Redgum
• Red Sweet Gum
• Sweetgum
• Sweet Gum
• Sweetgum Tree
• Gumball Tree

These nicknames mostly describe the fruit of this tree--one to three-inch pods shaped like gumballs that appear every autumn. The pods contain seeds, which your local birds and squirrels will feast on throughout the winter. 

The Sweet Gum Tree Makes A Wonderful Shade

The sweet gum tree generally stays around a hundred feet when fully grown but sometimes grows taller. As it matures, the crown forms a pyramid-like shape with a rounded top. The trunk of this tree is sturdy and large to support its grand height--it can be as much as three to four feet in diameter. Its bark is light- to medium-gray and displays an intriguing, ridged pattern.

The sweet gum tree leaves are multi-lobed and form a star shape upon maturation. They have slightly serrated edges, a dark green hue, and can be up to eight inches across. The canopy of the sweet gum tree turns amber, orange, russet, and purple in the autumn.

The “gumballs” appear around the end of August and continue to develop through the early fall. Throughout the winter, they drop from the tree, much to the delight of your wintertime garden visitors.

Order Your Sweet Gum Tree from TN Nursery

The sweet gum tree is an excellent landscaping choice for anyone who needs a tall shade tree but has soil compaction. Order your sweet gum tree from TN Nursery today.