liquidambar
( li - kwid - AM - bar )
At-A-Glance InformationThis genus, commonly known as Sweet Gum, is made up of deciduous trees that need full sun and moderate to regular water. Sweet Gum will attract birds to your garden. The foliage is beautiful, turning colors in fall, and make them wonderful shade trees. Younger trees have an upright habit, while mature ones have spreading canopies. Flowers are inconspicuous. Spiky ball-shaped fruits fall from trees throughout the year. They are good street trees if given enough distance from sidewalks and roads; their root systems will raise paved surfaces.
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liquidambar Species and Varietals
The best growing zones for Sweet Gum trees vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map
Liquidambar styraciflua (American Sweet Gum)
This species of Sweet Gum is native to the eastern United States and grows well in zones 3-9 and 14-24. It reaches around 60 feet tall in gardens, but can get much taller in larger spaces, and spreads to 20-25 feet wide. Bark is furrowed and branches have a pleasing pattern to them. Leaves are deep green in spring and summertime, and turn purple, yellow, or red in fall.
Liquidambar styraciflua 'Burgundy'
Deep purple-red fall color, and foliage hangs on for a long time, sometimes even through winter. |
Liquidambar styraciflua 'Cherokee'
Produces few seedpods; fall color is burgundy-red (yellow if in shade). |
Liquidambar styraciflua
'Emerald Sentinel' 30 feet tall and 12 feet wide, with a pyramid to column shape, and yellow-orange to orange fall color. |
Liquidambar styraciflua 'Festival'
Narrow, columnar tree with light green leaves and fall color that is a combination of pink, yellow, peach, and burgundy. |
Liquidambar styraciflua 'Gold Dust'
45 feet tall and 30 feet wide, with green leaves flecked with yellow. Fall color is pink, yellow, and burgundy. |
Liquidambar styraciflua
'Golden Treasure' Deep green leaves are edged in gold, In fall, edges turn pale yellow, then white, and the green center turns burgundy. |
Liquidambar styraciflua 'Moraine'
Very cold-tolerant species of Liquidambar, to 40 feet tall and 25 feet wide, with dark green foliage and burgundy fall color. |
Liquidambar styraciflua 'Palo Alto'
Orange-red to bright red fall color. |
Liquidambar styraciflua 'Rotundiloba'
Rounded rather than sharply pointed leaves with fall color in yellow, red, burgundy and purple. Does not set seed. |
Liquidambar styraciflua
'Slender Sihouette' 60 feet tall and just 8 feet wide, with orange-burgundy fall color. |
Liquidambar styraciflua 'Variegata'
Green leaves with yellow streaks and splotches. Variegation turns pink in fall, and leaves turn red. |
Liquidambar styraciflua 'Worplesdon'
Orange-red fall color. |
Caring for and pruning liquidambar Trees
Propagation
Problems and Pests
Gallery
Videos
A video all about growing camellias successfully
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Propagating camellias
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 416 - 417, Liquidambar (Sweet Gum)
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