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| Sweet Gum, American Sweetgum, Red Gum, White Gum, Star-leaved Gum, Alligator Tree, Blisted, Satin Walnut Liquidambar styraciflua Hamamelidaceae American Sweetgum is a widely distributed large deciduous tree native to the Southeastern USA. It grows in deep acid sands in low wet areas in east Texas. As it ages its attractive narrowly pyramid form changes to a more oval crown. The five-lobed, nearly star-shaped dark glossy green leaves turn beautiful combinations of yellow, orange, red, and purple in autumn. It suffers from chlorosis in shallow limestone soil, and even in areas with 35 inches of annual rainfall it needs supplemental moisture. The fruit is a spiny capsule that persists into winter Plant Habit or Use: medium tree large tree Exposure: sun Flower Color: green, not ornamental Blooming Period: spring Fruit Characteristics: spherical woody, spiny capsule Height: 40 to 60 ft in landscapes, double that in the wild Width: 20 to 30 ft. Plant Character: deciduous Heat Tolerance: very high Water Requirements: high medium Soil Requirements: acid Additional Comments:
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