#18
Accession Number: 0018-0000
Common Name: Sweet Gum
Latin Name: Liquidambar styraciflua
Family: Altingiaceae (Sweet Gum Family)
Native Range: Eastern United States, Mexico
Height: 60–80 feet
Spread: 40–60 feet
Bloom Time: April to May
Bloom Description: Yellow-green
USDA Hardiness Zone: 5
Light Preference: Full sun
Water Needs: Medium
Notes: Works well as a shade tree; fruit is showy; tolerates rabbits, deer, clay soil
Description: Sweet Gum is a low-maintenance shade tree with glossy, star-shaped leaves. The fruit produced, sometimes called “gum balls,” are hard, spiny spheres that change from green to brown and often persist on the trees through the winter. Although interesting in appearance, the fruit can be a nuisance to clean up, particularly on walking surfaces. Sweet Gum are great for fall color, featuring a brilliant mix of yellow, orange, purple, and red. The wood has been used for flooring, furniture, cabinetry, baskets, railroad ties, plywood, and pallets. The common name “gum” comes from the clumps of the resinous sap, which Native Americans and early pioneers would chew. The sap was also used for medicinal purposes, having an antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and other purported medicinal benefits.
