- Botanical name: Liquidambar styraciflua
- Common name: Sweet gum
- Family: Hamamelidaceae
- Plant Type: Tree, Deciduous
Bronze
Green
Purple
- Key features:
- Autumn colour
- Dramatic foliage
Liquidambar styraciflua (sweet gum) originates from eastern USA and was originally introduced to the UK in the 17th Century. It’s one of the best trees for autumn leaf colour. As temperatures fall in autumn, its large, lobed, maple-like leaves turn from green to glowing shades of orange, red, yellow, or purple.
The species is a tall-growing deciduous tree that needs plenty of space to grow – ultimate height ranges from 10m to more than 20m, with trees taking around 15-20 years to mature. However, many different cultivars have been bred since it was introduced, offering a range of features such as varying autumn leaf colours, variegated foliage, a narrower or columnar habit, and a smaller overall size. In recent years, sterile cultivars have been bred. These are useful where sweet gum is grown as a specimen tree in a lawn, as the seed balls are hard and prickly, and can cause discomfort underfoot.
The narrowest variety is ‘Slender Silhouette’, which forms a tight column 1-1.5m wide. ‘Lane Roberts’, ‘Slender Silhouette’ and ‘Worplesdon’ have been awarded the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Award of Garden Merit.
Liquidambar styraciflua is easy to grow in good, fertile soil that is moisture-retentive and well drained. It does not thrive in chalky soils.
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Advice on buying Liquidambar styraciflua
- Make sure you have enough space to grow Liquidambar styraciflua – some cultivars can reach ultimately reach 20m x 5m
- You’re likely to find Quercus robur at a specialist tree nursery or online. Always buy trees from a reputable supplier that sells British-grown or certified disease-free stock, to guarantee against pests and diseases
- Look out for bare root plants that can be bought and planted in the dormant season – these are usually cheaper
Where to buy Liquidambar styraciflua
How to grow Liquidambar styraciflua
-
Plant size
200m height
50m spread
-
Aspect
South facing, east facing, west facing
-
Position in border
Back
- Sun exposure: Full shade, partial shade
Plant calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant | ||||||||||||
| Plant |
J
Do Plant in January |
F
Do Plant in February |
M
Do Plant in March |
A
Do not Plant in April |
M
Do not Plant in May |
J
Do not Plant in June |
J
Do not Plant in July |
A
Do not Plant in August |
S
Do not Plant in September |
O
Do Plant in October |
N
Do Plant in November |
D
Do Plant in December |
| Flowers | ||||||||||||
| Flowers |
J
Plant does not flower in January |
F
Plant does not flower in February |
M
Plant does not flower in March |
A
Plant does flower in April |
M
Plant does flower in May |
J
Plant does not flower in June |
J
Plant does not flower in July |
A
Plant does not flower in August |
S
Plant does not flower in September |
O
Plant does not flower in October |
N
Plant does not flower in November |
D
Plant does not flower in December |
| Fruits | ||||||||||||
| Fruits |
J
Plant does not fruit in January |
F
Plant does not fruit in February |
M
Plant does not fruit in March |
A
Plant does not fruit in April |
M
Plant does not fruit in May |
J
Plant does not fruit in June |
J
Plant does not fruit in July |
A
Plant does not fruit in August |
S
Plant does fruit in September |
O
Plant does fruit in October |
N
Plant does not fruit in November |
D
Plant does not fruit in December |
Liquidambar styraciflua and wildlife
Liquidambar styraciflua has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
Is Liquidambar styraciflua poisonous?
Liquidambar styraciflua has no toxic effects reported.
No reported toxicity to Birds
No reported toxicity to Cats
No reported toxicity to Dogs
No reported toxicity to Horses
No reported toxicity to Livestock
No reported toxicity to People
