The glossy, dark green, star shaped leaves take on an wonderful array of colors in the fall, ranging from clear yellow to orange, red or burgundy. Its glossy, dark green, star shaped leaves take on an unpredictable array of colors in the fall, ranging from clear yellow to orange, red or burgundy. Iron chlorosis can be a problem in high pH soils. Deciduous. The wood of this aromatic tree species is exceptionally workable, and it is one of North America's most widely planted timber trees. Leaves have a camphor-like smell when crushed. Sweet Gum. Although in the wild it's often found in damp soil, it adapts to a range of soils. It is faster growing and a more cold hardy cultivar appropriate for the Chicago region. The branches are light brown and often corky. If an appropriate space is available, check out the cold-hardy cultivar, 'Moraine', which is recommended for northern Illinois. These leaves are fragrant if bruised. Slender Silhouette is a beanpole of a plant, growing 50 feet tall or higher, with a spread of 5 feet at the base. The leaves are a shade of dark green at the top, getting lighter in hue when receding through the length of the leaf. Not native to North America this sweet gum gets its common name from the sap that oozes from any wounds on the tree. The beautifully glossy, star-shaped leaves turn bright red, purple, yellow or orange in the fall (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7) and early winter (USDA hardiness zones 8 and 9). The American sweetgum is a bottomland species commonly growing 75 feet in height with a more or less pyramidal form. The greenish flowers are inconspicuous, because they are of the same color as the leaves and sprout together. Latin Name: The Latin name for this tree species is Liquidambar styraciflua.It is a member of the Altingiaceae family and is sometimes classified in the Hamamelidaceae (witch hazel) family. Best in full sun to partial shade in deep, moist, bottomland soils. Non-showy, drooping female flowers are yellowish-green in early spring. Male flowers are upright, reddish-green in terminal panicles. Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Arrangement: Alternate Leaf Shape: Deltoid Palmasect Leaf Margin: Dentate Serrate Hairs Present: No Leaf Length: 3-6 inches Leaf Width: 3-6 inches Leaf Description: The Sweetgum tree has alternate, simple, serrate, palmate venation, glossy, deciduous, long-stalked, deep green leaves (4-8” across) with toothed margins. 'Rotundiloba' is a narrowly pyramidal, deciduous tree which typically grows 60-75' tall (less frequently to 100'). Sweetgum grows in a narrow pyramid to a height of 75 feet and may spread to 50 feet. Sweet-gum is known for its unique star-shaped leaves with outstanding yellow, red, and purple fall color. Sweet gum leaves are star shaped with between five and seven pointed lobes with veins that connect to a notched base. It takes the sweet gum tree 20 to 30 years to mature enough to produce its fruit. It might be the color that gives them away, or the arrangement of the leaves within the foliage in general, or even the exact shape of specific leaf types. The deeply cut grey or brownish-grey bark forms winged projections on the twigs. | Transplant difficult due to shallow, fleshy root system. Leaf scars come in many shapes and sizes. In Autumn, the leaves generally turn a reddish-purple or orange color. The upper side of the leaf is a dark green, while the under-side of the leaf is a pale green color. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. Natural Areas Conservation Training Program, Black walnut toxicity (plants tolerant of), Preventing construction damage to trees and shrubs, Trees and shrubs for the four seasons landscape, Sudden Oak Death, Ramorum Blight and Phytophthora ramorum, Eastern United States Wetlands Collection. The clefts between the lobes are deep, reaching almost all the way to the leaf margin. In the autumn the whole ground under the tree is often covered with seeds. Get expert help from The Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic. The foliage is palmate, like a maple leaf, but more deeply lobed and star shaped. Native to Eastern United States, from Southwestern Connecticut to Florida. Sweet gum tree leaves are star-shaped, with palmately-lobed simple leaves that have five even lobes pointed on the ends and spread out like an open hand. The leaf margin is serrated. Go to list of cultivars. Within a submenu, use escape to move to top level menu parent. Sweet Gum trees have a star-shaped leaf with five points. If an appropriate space is available, check out the cold-hardy cultivar, 'Moraine', which is recommended for northern Illinois. Considered messy especially near sidewalks and patios. A large tree where ample room is provided. Description: The star-like leaf has 5 or 7 lobes or points and turns from green in summer to yellow or purple in autumn. The dark to medium glossy green leaves change to a kaleidoscope of yellow, red, purple tones in the fall. Common Names: This tree has many common names and may be known as sweetgum, gumtree, red gum, star-leaved gum, American sweetgum, alligator-wood, bilsted, satin-walnut, American-storax, … The star-shaped leaves are lustrous green in summer, turning dark red in fall. Use up and down arrow keys to explore within a submenu. They can be in a finger-like arrangement, or … They are star-shaped and have palm-shaped lobes. Fall color yellow-orange. Leaves turn yellow-purple-red in the fall, and stay on the tree quite late. Sweet Gum. Building the urban forest for 2050. In the fall, leaves … Have tree and plant questions? The trunk is normally straight and does not divide into d… Leaves are alternate, simple, star-shaped, with 5 (sometimes 7) lobes, 3–6 inches wide, deeply lobed; margin toothed, tips long-pointed; leaves slightly aromatic when bruised. The sweet gum got its name for … From top level menus, use escape to exit the menu. Slow to establish. The American Sweetgum (or "Sweet Gum") tree is popular all over the world as a shade tree, but this variegated version doubles as a dazzling ornamental tree, too. The sweet gum tree (Liquidambar styraciflua) is one of the most common trees found in the forests of Hilton Head Island. The trees’ spike ball fruit is almost as telltale for identification as the star-shaped leaves. sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) leaf underside, sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) leaves, sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) flower, sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) flowers, sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) terminal bud, Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) axial bud, sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) tree in winter, sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) autumn foliage, sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) tree in summer. Along the rivers of the south-eastern United States, Sweet gums exceed 125 ft. in height and 4 ft. in diameter. The bark on the trunk is deeply furrowed. Our communities. Young trees have a conical form; older trees are gracefully spreading, with scaly, dark gray bark. Sweet gum leaves turn a mix of red, orange and yellow, often on the same tree. Sweet gums have a conical or rounded form. The sweet gum tree is most well known for its star shaped leaves that turn shades of yellow, orange, red, and purple in the fall. This plant has some cultivated varieties. Sweetgum leaves are palmate, or flat and hand-shaped, with five or sometimes seven pointed lobes with serrated edges. Sweet gum is one of the main valuable forest trees in the southeastern United States, and is a popular ornamental tree in temperate climates. Stop by, email, or call. Liquidambar styraciflua, commonly called sweet gum, is a low-maintenance deciduous shade tree that is native from Connecticut to Florida and Missouri further south to Texas, Mexico and Central America. This leaf is borne on corky-winged limbs and the bark is gray-brown, deeply furrowed with narrow ridges. Mature trees have a grayish brown, deeply furrowed bark with narrow ridges. When a deciduous leaf naturally breaks from its twig in autumn, it leaves a leaf scar. Deep, glossy green star-shaped leaves mark the Sweetgum. Resembling the maple leaf in shape, the leaves of Liquidambar species are palmately lobed and arranged spirally on the twigs, and variegated cultivars are available. In the winter, you will also be able to recognize this tree by the spherical, dark brown, and spiky gumballs that often litter the surrounding area. You can see the Sweetgum's leaf scar at the base of a bud below: Gumball-like, 1 to 1.5 inch, spiny fruits change from green to brown in late summer and fall. Moraine sweet-gum (Liquidambar styraciflua 'Moriane'). While you wait, the tree has much to offer. Altingiaceae (sweet gums) (formerly Hamamelidaceae) Description : Sweet gum is a large tree with a long, cylindrical trunk, pyramidal crown, and corky wings on branches and twigs. Full sun. Fast-growing to 40 to 50 feet high, 25 to 30 feet wide. The Morton Arboretum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on the generosity of members and donors. Grafted. For example, some leaves appear long and narrow; then there are those that look like needles. Explore this online platform for Chicago-area residents to share their favorite stories about trees. From shop Pincapallina ... Sculpted Leather Sweet Gum Leaf Ornament MythicalDesigns. Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. Unique foliage has rounded lobes, unlike other sweetgums turning hues of purple in autumn. Slender Silhouette sweet-gum (Liquidambar styraciflua 'Slender Silhouette'):  A narrow, columnar form, growing 6 to 8 feet wide and 60 feet high. It is a large deciduous tree that has a beautiful leaf pattern. The sweet gum resembles a maple tree, and in the summer, the star-shaped leaves and sturdy trunk are impressive, if easily overlooked. On some trees, particularly in the northern part of its range, branches are covered with characteristic corky projections. The fruits are spiky capsule fruits that contain up to 40 capsules. You can search, browse, and learn more about the plants in our living collections by visiting our BRAHMS website. As a pioneer species, sweetgum is also common on abandoned fields and logged or clearcut areas, where it frequently forms dense thickets. Sweet gum trees (Liquidambar styraciflua) are a common sight in the eastern United States and in several Central American and southern Mexican regions. In Missouri, it typically occurs in moist low woods and along streams only in the far southeastern corner of the state (Steyermark). The sweetgum is a typical southern bottomland tree that occurs most abundantly on moist, rich, alluvial soils in association with many other species in valleys, swamps, and near ponds and streams. An upright, oval habit with excellent red fall color. The common name of sweet gum refers to an aromatic balsam or gum that exudes from wounds to the tree. Use enter to activate. In the above photo you might notice the leaf scar at the base of each bud. 50 AMERICAN SWEETGUM Liquidambar Styraciflua Storax Alligator Sweet Gum Tree Seeds - Great Fall Color! Our trees. The leaves have a similar shape, and the fall foliage color, well, that's bright and festive, just like a maple. Deep green leaves have, as the cultivar name suggests, distinctively rounded lobes (5-7). single tree or planting in groups, parks, urban green, back to trees by common name | trees by botanical name | conifers by common name | conifers by botanical name | German: baumportal.de, © Jost Benning  | Imprint | jowaca digital solutions. The following menu has 3 levels. 26. Foliage turns yellow to burgundy in fall. Maple leaves resemble sweetgum leaves and each other in their palmate shape. Our future. Sweet gum … Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menus and submenus. The leaf margin is serrated. It is an easy tree to identify, as it has a leaf that is shaped like the palm of your hand, with 5 lobes for "fingers." The Sweetgum comes from North America. The beautifully glossy, star-shaped leaves turn bright red-purple in the fall (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7) and early winter (USDA hardiness zones 8 and 9). The leaves emit a foul smell if crushed or damaged. Sweet Gum Healing. sweet-gum, American sweet-gum, sweet gum, sweetgum. © Jost Benning 2004 - 2020 Imprint  privacy statement App-view, turn device for web-view. It is glossy green in the spring and summer, turning to vivid red, yellow and even purple in the fall. The tree has a slim crown and is also often found in private gardens, because it has beautiful autumn colors. Sweet-gum is known for its unique star-shaped leaves with outstanding yellow, red, and purple fall color. It can be an excellent shade tree in the right location, away from foot traffic where the spiky "gumball" fruits will not be an annoyance. In some cases, at the peak of the fall foliage season, certain leaves may be red, others purple, others yellow, and still others orange (all on the same plant). The resinous sap running from the wounded bark was previously used in chewing gum production. The leaves are arranged in an alternating structure. Bronze Shiny Christmas Tree , Cone Shaped Antique Gold Tree, Made of Natural Seed Pods Pincapallina. It ranges from the southwestern part of Connecticut to central Florida, west to Texas and north to Southern Illinois. This handsome shade or street tree has a narrow form in youth, more rounded with age. The leaves of the Sweetgum is hand shaped, lobed with typically five leaf tips. The American sweetgum is a large shade tree with an ovular shape. Monoecious. This cultivar of Sweetgum grows in a narrow pyramid to a height of 75 feet and may spread to 50 feet. Fruits are a dehiscent capsule and persist into winter. Yellow to … A single family member has a consistency in leaf shape that a group of relatives does not. It can be found throughout most of the United States as a forest tree in the Southeast and an ornamental in gardens and cities. The leaves of the Sweetgum is hand shaped, lobed with typically five leaf tips. The leaf will have a saw-tooth or serrated edge. It is recognizable by the combination of its five-po American sweetgum can reach 80 feet in height at maturity, with a spread of about 60 feet. Its shape is pyramidal, becoming more rounded with age. On some trees, the branches are \"winged,\" as on winged euonymus (burning bush), displaying corky flanges. From shop MythicalDesigns. Liquidambar should be planted in full sun to achieve best color, in neutral to acid soil that is moist but well-drained. It maintains a remarkable degree of uniformity as it grows upward with the top of the column about the same width as the base. Because of wide geographical range, it is important to use northern nursery sources. Common Facts . The leaves are deciduous (they fall off the tree in autumn) and turn bright yellow before falling. The sweetgum tree is very fast growing and is highly resistant to insects. The leaves, which are five-lobed and shaped like stars, provide excellent fall foliage color. Browse the curated collection and add your voice! The fruit is a conspicuous spiked ball that hangs in clusters. Slender Sil… This makes them the perfect species of tree for reforestation projects. Alternate, maple-like, star shaped leaves are 5 to 7 lobed and 4 to 8 inches long and wide with serrate margins. It can be an excellent shade tree in the right location, away from foot traffic where the spiky "gumball" fruits will not be an annoyance. American sweetgum, also known as American storax, hazel pine, bilsted, redgum, satin-walnut, star-leaved gum, alligatorwood, or simply sweetgum, is a deciduous tree in the genus Liquidambar native to warm temperate areas of eastern North America and tropical montane regions of Mexico and Central America. The alternate, palmate, shiny leaves have usually five pointed, finely toothed lobes, and are fragrant when bruised. Emerald Sentinel® sweet-gum (Liquidambar styraciflua 'Clydesform'): A narrow-pyramidal shape; grows 30 feet high and 12 feet wide. Some trees develop interesting corky ridges on 2 year old stems. This tree is often planted in parks where its height, ranging from 70-120 feet, and sprawling branches, spreading 40-50 feet, create shade for visitors. use escape to move to top level menu parent. ... 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