Botanical Name: Liquidambar styraciflua
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Common Name: Liquidambar; American Sweetgum  
Plant photo of: Liquidambar styraciflua
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Tree

 

Height Range

25-40'

 

Flower Color

n/a

 

Flower Season

n/a

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

Brown, Grey

 

Fruit Color

Brown

 

Fruit Season

Winter, Fall, Persistent

Sun

Full, Half

 

Water

Medium

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Clay, Loam

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Well-drained

 

Soil pH

Acid, Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

Messy

Design Styles

English Cottage, Formal, Ranch, Woodland

 

Accenting Features

Fall Color, Specimen

 

Seasonal Interest

Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Background, Shrub Border, Patio, Park, Walls / Fences

 

Special Uses

Screen, Mass Planting, Shade Tree, Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer: Normans/Engstrom/Mullany

  • Description

  • Notes

Liquidamber is a lovely deciduous tree with an upright, narrowly pyramidal habit, growing moderately to 40 feet tall and about 15 to 20 feet wide. Leaves are a rich green and maple-like. The fall color is why you plant this tree, with a kaleidoscope of yellows, oranges, reds, and purples. It has round seedpods, about the size of pingpong balls, and they are sort of spiny; no bother dropping into shrubby or groundcover areas, but a little tough on lawnmowers or feet. They are great for craft projects, though. A number of cultivars are available, with selections made for fall color and size.
Liquidamber grows best in well-drained, loamy soils and in full sun, though tolerates partial shade. Grows in neutral soils but can exhibit chlorosis in high pH soils. Tolerates pollution.