Liquidamber styraciflua

(Sweetgum)

Tall deciduous tree with glossy maple-like leaves, shaped like a five-pointed star. Leaves take on brilliant colours, red, yellow, purple and orange, in autumn. Attractive corky bark exudes a sweet resin when wounded, hence both the genus name and the common name. Fruits, called 'gumballs', are covered in curly hooks and often hang on all winter. Can grow to 50ft or more

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Product details

Hardiness:

Hardy

Plant Type:

Tree

Growing Condition:

Light shade or sun

Season:

Autumn, Early summer, Summer

Good For:

Edible, Foliage, Fragrance, Seedheads & fruit

Colour:

Green

Germination:

Sow in autumn, overwinter outdoors, germinates in spring. Or mix seed with damp vermiculite, keep warm 3 weeks, put in fridge 6 weeks, then sprinkle mix on compost and put in cool light place