Sweet Gum Tree
The Sweet Gum tree is a tall deciduous tree native to North America. It is known for its distinctive star-shaped leaves, spiky brown seed balls, and vibrant fall foliage. One of the standout benefits of using trees in landscaping is their striking visual appeal.
The sweet gum, known as Liquidambar styraciflua and American sweetgum, is considered a precious forest tree. Its star-shaped, five-pointed leaves can occasionally confuse it for a maple.
Sweet Gum Tree Leaves
In the summer, these will grow smooth and shiny leaves with a rich, satisfying green color. It's in autumn that the sweetgum shines, though. Their leaves can turn into various colors, including dark purple, yellow, and red. Once again, comparable to maples, they appear almost on fire as they go out in a blaze of glory. It's something to behold and will quickly become your favorite fall beauty.
The Flowers and Fruit Of Sweet Gum Tree
Flowers first appear in spring and typically hang in there until at least fall. Depending on their gender, you may see yellowish-green drooping flowers or reddish-green upright flowers. Either way, the staminate flowers can grow up to three inches long. Over time, the ovaries of the sweetgum's flowers will harden and become fruit.
The Seeds Of Sweet Gum Tree
The fruit is dry and complex, and each one-inch contains 40-60 capsules. Inside these capsules are tiny seeds. Once they fall to the ground, these seeds are commonly referred to as burr balls. Most of these seeds won't come to fruition, but they provide an excellent food source for squirrels, birds, and chipmunks.
Sweet Gum Trees offer excellent shade and should be planted away from foot traffic. Their long and distinguished history dates back to at least 1517, and they can live for up to 400 years. As they grow, they'll develop deeply ridged bark, sometimes called alligatorwood. Additionally, the branches will become gray, dark brown, or reddish-brown.
If you're fond of stepping on fallen leaves, you'll be treated to a camphor-like fragrance. Combining this with Sweet Gum Tree's breathtaking autumn appearance, you'll get a deciduous sapling that can become part of your overall legacy. After all, with its long lifecycle, it can outlive you and several subsequent generations.
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Bloom/Foliage Color
Green
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Height at Maturity
Over 25 Feet
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In Stock
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