American Sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua
This magnificent native shade tree is famous for its spectacular fall display of yellow, orange, red, and purple leaves all on the same tree. The distinctive star-shaped leaves and interesting spiky seed balls make it a conversation starter, while its fast growth and dense shade make it highly practical for large landscapes.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
5–9
USDA hardiness
Height
60-100 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for American Sweetgum in USDA Zone 7
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American Sweetgum · Zones 5–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet. Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 100 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 40 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: more than 60 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: 'Aurea'Same as Variegata. 'Aurora' 'Burgundy' 'Corky' 'Festival' 'Gumball' Dwarf, 15 feet high, purple-red fall leaf color. 'Oconee'Dwarf with a shrubby habit to 15 feet high. 'Palo Alto' 'Rotundiloba' No gumballs and vibrant fall color 'Slender Silhouette' 'Variegata'Variegated foliage, good cold hardiness. 'White Star', 'Aurea', 'Aurora', 'Burgundy', 'Corky', 'Festival', 'Gumball', 'Oconee', 'Palo Alto', 'Rotundiloba', 'Slender Silhouette', 'Variegata', 'White Star'. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Female flowers give way to a globose head (the infamous gum ball) which are hard, beak shaped, bristly fruiting capsules 1 to 3 inches in diameter appearing in August-September. Gum balls mature to dark brown and usually remain on the tree through the winter, but can create clean-up problems during the general period of December through April as the clusters fall to the ground. The capsules contain two tiny seeds (syncarp). The fruits persist through the winter and attract birds.
Color: Brown/Copper. Type: Capsule. Length: 1-3 inches. Width: 1-3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Winter
Bloom time: Spring, Summer
History & Origin
Origin: Eastern United States, Mexico
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Compaction, Deer, Drought, Fire, Heat, Rabbits
- +Attracts: Moths, Pollinators, Small Mammals, Songbirds
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Hostas
Thrives in partial shade created by sweetgum, complementary root depths
Ferns
Enjoys acidic soil conditions and filtered light from sweetgum canopy
Azaleas
Benefits from acidic leaf litter and partial shade protection
Rhododendrons
Shares preference for acidic soil and appreciates wind protection
Wild Ginger
Ground cover that thrives under sweetgum's acidic leaf mulch
Coral Bells
Tolerates acidic conditions and provides color contrast under canopy
Astilbe
Flourishes in moist, shaded conditions with acidic soil
Eastern Redbud
Understory tree that complements sweetgum's vertical structure
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Releases juglone toxin that can inhibit sweetgum growth and health
Silver Maple
Competes aggressively for water and nutrients with shallow root system
Kentucky Bluegrass
Struggles under dense canopy and acidic leaf litter conditions
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good disease resistance
Common Pests
Scale, caterpillars, webworms
Diseases
Leaf spot, canker, root rot in poorly drained soils