
American Sweetgum
- Botanical Name
- Liquidambar styraciflua
- Min Zone
- 5
- Max Zone
- 9
- Height
- 60 to 75 feet
- Width
- 40 to 75 feet
- Flowers
- May: monoecious, yellow-green, not showy
- Fruit
- 1 to 1.5 inch spiny ball
- Fall Color
- Orange, red, burgundy, purple
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Soil
- Deep, moist, well-drained, acidic
- Planting & Care
- Transplant balled and burlap or container grown in spring
- Fleshy root system takes a while to establish
- Because of wide geographical range, it is important to use northern nursery sources when growing in the north
- Problems
- Chlorosis in high pH soils, fruit litter, -20 degrees causes dieback
- Varieties
- Cherokee (Liquidambar styraciflua 'Ward') - nearly fruitless form, dark green leaves turn burgundy-red in fall, corky bark characteristics
- Gold Dust (Liquidambar styraciflua 'Goduzam') - green leaves with gold speckled variegation, probably Zone 5b
- Moraine - most hardy variety, upright oval compact growth, bright red fall color
- Rotundiloba - nearly fruitless form named for leaves with rounded lobes, Zone 6
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