Sweetgum Tree Facts

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Overview

The sweetgum tree, also known as redgum or Liquidambar styraciflua, is a member of the witch hazel family (Hamamelidaceae). It is a fast growing tree with good fall foliage.

Star shaped leaves adorn the sweetgum tree. image by "shiny star leaf fringed weirdly in tarry moongate" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: quapan (Karl-Ludwig Poggemann) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.

Description

Redgum trees are large, over 100 feet tall, and have a cone-shaped crown that rounds when mature. There are star-like leaves, 4 to 7 inches wide, with spiny fruits. It is a deciduous tree, meaning the leaves will fall each autumn.

Growth

This tree likes to be grown in full sun to a filtered shade in moist, well-drained soils. It is slightly drought-resistant.

Hardiness

The sweetgum tree is hardy in USDA hardiness zones of 5 to 9.

Propagation

Propagate the Liquidambar styraciflua via seeds.

Warning

Fruits from the sweetgum are spiny and the limbs can drop off easily. It needs a lot of cleanup maintenance and it can grow and spread quickly, leading it to be a pest tree.

Fun Facts

This tree is well-loved by the yellow-bellied sapsucker bird, as is evident by the rows of square holes in the tree bark.

References

Floridata

Keywords: sweetgum, redgum, Liquidambar styraciflua

About this Author

T.M. Samuels has been a freelance writer since 1993. She has published works in "Arthritis Today," "Alabama Living" and "Mature Years," and is the author of a gardening book. Samuels studied pre-medicine at Berry College.

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