Talkback: Liquidambar: plant this tree - Talkback

Gardeners' World Web User

05/11/2008 at 20:33

Are they any good for wildlife?

Gardeners' World Web User

05/11/2008 at 23:50

The Americans love this tree as long as it isn't in their yards, as the fruit falls abundantly and is painful to walk on. Just a thought, perhaps the fruitless variety 'Rotundiloba' would be better?

Gardeners' World Web User

07/11/2008 at 13:39

James, I have a Liquidamber that is about 30 feet tall, looking exquisite at the moment in my garden. It is pretty heavy clay soil in that area of the garden, the soil has never been improved. You did my garden years ago in Dulwich. I admire all your work and blogs, by the way.

Gardeners' World Web User

07/11/2008 at 14:38

I have just planted a superb specimen of Liquidamber styraciflua 'Worpleston' in my Garden in West Sussex. The soil type is alkaline and clay, although it is also quite deep and fertile. I have to agree that this is one of the finest trees for Autumn colour and form and should be planted more often as it is actually suprisingly tolerant in all but shallow chalk soils

Gardeners' World Web User

07/11/2008 at 22:34

I planted a liquidamber in my Aberdeenshire coastal garden earlier this year it is struggling a bit although still alive does anyone else have experience of similar conditions?

Gardeners' World Web User

08/11/2008 at 17:35

VP: They will grow with you, they may not have the depth of colour that they get in, say, New england but they will still startle. Honesty:All trees are good for wildlife: if nothing else they give the birds somewhere to sit down. Karen: good point. You will find that they are not as free with their fruit over here. Bee: You must email me and tell me which garden it was. That was a disturbingly long time ago.

Gardeners' World Web User

09/11/2008 at 17:52

I would love one of these trees but where will I find it?

Gardeners' World Web User

10/11/2008 at 18:44

Very easily. A simple search should come up with a nursery in your area which stocks them.

Gardeners' World Web User

17/11/2008 at 13:51

I'm much encouraged by the notion that a Liquidamber Styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’ will cope with my garden conditions (chalk rock, so v alkaline, but a deep clay soil on top). I have a large garden & am keen to plant a number of trees to give glorious autumn colour. What other specimens would you recommend?

Gardeners' World Web User

24/11/2008 at 15:48

James, I agree with you this tree is truly magnificent for its autumn colour. I have one in my garden which is now 3 years old and is still in full leaf a blaze of burgundy, red and yellowey orange, which backlit by the late autumn sun takes your breath away. After several hard frosts in Nottinghamshire it is the only tree in my garden that has kept its leaves for so long. I would also sing its praises for its superb corky bark on the older trees which when denude of leaf give the most fabulous structure in the winter garden. This is one of my favorite trees I cannot sing its praises highly enough!

Gardeners' World Web User

18/04/2009 at 14:05

WE have a mature Liquidamber in our garden but for the last few years it has refused to change colour. Any ideas?

Gardeners' World Web User

29/08/2009 at 11:21

We have just purchased a liquidamber worplesdon but planned to plant it in our small garden about 15 feet away from the house. Comments from some readers about invasive root growth and upshoots are scarey! With talk about undermining house foundations! How dangerous is this tree near our house?

Gardeners' World Web User

01/09/2009 at 08:34

Jean: Not really. All trees have roots but very few undermine foundations. Willows are about the only one that gives trouble and that is because the roots wheedle their way into drains. Go ahead: plant it.

Gardeners' World Web User

28/01/2010 at 15:26

Will it grow on my dry sandy soil in Surrey?

Gardeners' World Web User

01/02/2010 at 19:14

PGTips: Yes. There is a particularly fine specimen at Wisley (on the way to the glasshouse)

Gardeners' World Web User

05/05/2010 at 20:09

Are the fruits that the liquidumber drop poisonous as I have dogs?

Gardeners' World Web User

11/05/2010 at 06:56

Hi Maxine: I have never heard of the fruit harming anybody or anything.

Gardeners' World Web User

18/05/2010 at 13:41

Planted a 6ft root balled liquidamber in March. Not showing much signs of life although a few buds are starting to show a few leaves. could this be due to the harsh winter ?

Gardeners' World Web User

16/09/2010 at 09:05

We we recommended the liquidamber by the council who have some oversight over any tree replacement here (Bracknell). And good advice it was, too. Everyone comments upon it - vistors and neighbours alike - in the autumn when it puts on its finery! We prune it agressively every 3 years and it never fails to return with more foliage than before. We had fruits for two years but - silly me - I mistook them for an infestation, like those affecting some oaks. The fruits rarely dropped and were on the tree next year, dark brown, hard, and not particularly attractive. A few roots are breaking the surface which we will have to watch - unchecked, they will damage the lawnmower before too long. Still, for the only tree we've ever purchased, this is a cracker!

Gardeners' World Web User

20/09/2010 at 14:00

actually I was going to cut down the two liquid ambers on our property (6 acres so no worry about roots ) because they drop their leaves and make a big mess... but lo and behold my bees love the spring flowers and are humming along on there so much l thought there was a new swarm ... so the liquid ambers are there to stay - as it gives the bees a great start in australian spring - like an energy drink the nectar is already turning into honey very early in the season