Sweetgums

Liquidambar

A family of 4 species of trees native to Asia and North America which are related to the Witch Hazel. There are also 20 extinct fossilized species which previously grew worldwide during the dinosaur times. The range of those now extinct species included western U.S., Siberia, central Europe and even Greenland.
The Sweetgums are rarely bothered by pests, diseases or deer and are resistant to flood damage, salt, heavy clay and storm winds. While excellent shade trees; it is important to position them where the spiky fruits will not be a nuisance when they fall. Sweetgums also do not enjoy root disturbance so it is recommended to move them very carefully and when they are small. If a Sweetgum suffers root disturbance while transplanting; it may take up to 5 years to get established and finally resume growth.
They prefer full sun on a moist, deep, fertile, well drained, acidic soil.
Propagation can be from softwood cuttings in summer or from seed sown in fall.

Liquidambar acalycina ( Chinese Sweetgum )
A rare vigorous tall tree native to China, that can reach 100 feet in height or more. Based on my own observations I believe it could potentially reach the same size as Liquidambar styraciflua though little data exists on old growth trees in the wild. A tree of 65 x 45 feet is reported to grow in New York City. Some additional records include: 10 years - 23.5 feet; fastest growth rate - 5 feet.
The attractive leaves, up to 8 x 10 inches in size, have 3 very pronounced lobes. The velvety foliage is rich maroon-red during spring turning to luxuriant mid-green during summer. The leaves turn to fiery red late in fall. The leaves still drop earlier than L. formosana; being before Christmas. The growth continues late in the season which may sometimes present a problem of frost damage on growth that has not hardened off.
Hardy zones 6 to 10 and is hardy to as low as -10 F. The Chinese Sweetgum thrives in the hot humid summers of the eastern and southeast U.S. which mimic its native range.

* photo taken on April 11 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum

* photo taken on May 1 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on May 8 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photos taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


* photo taken on Feb 8 2015 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on Sep 3 2017 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photos taken on June 29 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photos taken on Nov 15 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 23 2022 in Burtonsville, MD

* photos taken on May 22 2024 in Columbia, MD

'Burgundy Flash'
The very attractive foliage is deep burgundy red at first before turning to blue-green. Autumn foliage is also deep burgundy red.
It produces few seeds.
Hardy zones 5 to 9 ( estimate...further testing is needed and it likely requires hot summers to acquire full hardiness ).

* photo taken on Oct 4 2016 in Mt Airy, MD

* photos taken on June 24 2017 in Mt Airy, MD

* photos taken on Aug 1 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 20 2018 in Laurel, MD

* photo taken on Feb 10 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 18 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 1 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 19 2023 in Columbia, MD

Liquidambar formosana ( Formosan Sweetgum )
A large straight trunked tree native to mountains in southern China and Taiwan.
Reaching up to 80 feet or more; some records include: growth rate - 5 feet; 5 years - 16 x 12 feet; 15 years - 50 feet; 20 years - 58 feet x 14 inch trunk diameter; largest on record - 200 x 70 feet with a trunk diameter of 10 feet.
The foliage is broadly 3 lobed and up to 6 x 8.5 inches in size. The very shiny leaves have a finely serrated margin and are purple at first turning deep green above and downy below. The leaves turn to deep red very late in the fall.
Foliage remains on the trees often into early January in the Pacific Northwest.
The flowers are greenish yellow and inconspicuous. They appear in spring as the leaves emerge.
They are followed by spiky rounded brown fruit clusters up to 1.5 inches across.
The gray-white bark darkens and becomes fissured as the tree ages.
Hardy zones 7 to 10 and flood tolerant.
Very tolerant of heat, humidity, floods, storms and urban conditions but can be prone to chlorosis on alkaline soil; it thrives as far south as Tampa, Florida.
subsp. 'Monticola'
A full zone hardier to zone 6 with foliage that is purplish in spring turning to deep green in summer then brilliant red in fall. This form thrives well in cool summered southern England as well.

* historical archive photo

* recommended photo link
https://alchetron.com/Liquidambar-formosana

Liquidambar orientalis ( Turkish Sweetgum )
A moderately growing, broad-crowned tree native of southwest Turkey that can reach around 50 feet or more. Some records include: growth rate - 2 feet; largest on record - 100 x 70 feet with a trunk diameter of 5.5 feet. One at the Bologna Botanical Gardens is 100 feet in height with a trunk diameter of 5 feet.
The 3 to 5 palmately-lobed leaves are up to 4 or rarely 5 x 5 inches in size. The smooth, matte-green foliage turns to orange and red during autumn.
The greenish-yellow, inconspicuous flowers appear during spring as the leaves emerge.
They are followed by spiky rounded brown fruit clusters up to 1 inches across.
The thick, orange-brown bark cracks into small plates.
Hardy from zones 5b to 10 and needs hot summers. Very drought tolerant; I have seen this used as a street tree in Santiago, Chile where rainfall in summer is extremely rare. THIS TREE IS CRITICALLY ENDANGERED IN THE WILD DUE TO LOGGING AND HABITAT LOSS. It is a top rated ornamental tree and its use in landscaping is encouraged.


* recommended video link

* recommended photo link
https://alchetron.com/Liquidambar-orientalis

Liquidambar styraciflua ( Sweet Gum )
A large tree native to bottomland woods of the eastern U.S. from Missouri and Illinois to New Jersey; south to eastern Texas to central Florida. The Sweetgum can reach up to 80 feet or more.
Some records include: growth rate - 6 feet x 1 inch diameter; first year from seed - 16 inches; 5 years - 17 + feet; 6 years - 30 feet; 20 years - 47 x 25 feet; 30 years - 70 x 40 feet; 38 years - 80 x 40 feet with a trunk diameter of 2 feet; 70 years - trunk diameter of 4.4 feet; largest on record - 202 x 100 feet with a trunk diameter of 10 feet. Some of the largest known trees grew in the river valleys of the Neuse River in North Carolina and the Wabash Valley in Illinois. Due to over a century of destruction of our old growth hardwood forest, is unlikely that any forest giants above 150 feet in height or 7.5 feet in diameter remain in the U.S. today.
The Canadian champ ( not native ) is 66 feet with a trunk diameter of 3 feet at the cemetary in Port Dover, Ontario.
The Sweetgum is very adaptable thriving far from its native range in places such as Santiago, Chile, Vancouver to Cali, eastern Australia and much of Europe. Trees have exceeded 90 feet in England. A supurb shade tree with a moderately dense canopy; the strong wooded, wind firm Sweetgum is also long lived up to 400 years.
The glossy green leaves are up to 6 x 6 inches or rarely as much as 10 x 7 inches on vigorous shoots. They have 5 or 7 tapered lobes with margins that are finely toothed. Many people compare the shape of the leaves to Starfish. The foliage turns glowing orange, red and purple with often all colors on the same tree over the autumn season. The fall color typically lasts over a long period of time and is even intense in the Deep South and the West Coast. Seed source originating from a subspecies native to the mountains in Mexico is almost evergreen but not as cold hardy.
The flowers are greenish yellow and inconspicuous. They appear in spring as the leaves emerge.
They are followed by spiky rounded brown fruit clusters up to 1.5 inches across that often persist well into winter.
The twigs are red-brown, often with corky wings.
The gray-brown bark is deeply furrowed and ridged. The wood weights 37 pounds per square foot.
The wood is used for furniture, interior trim and veneer.
Hardiness varies depending on the seed source of the parent tree. The maximum hardiness ranges are zones 4 to 10. -35 F is the killing point for even the hardiest seed source and clones. Trees may not leaf out until June if temperatures reach -20 F and kill the leaf buds. It is hardy in cultivation north to southern Ontario and Maine. Sweetgum survives as a shrub at Dominion Arboretum in Ottawa, Canada where it gets cut back to near ground level during hard winters. The Sweet Gum generally tolerates more winter extremes where summers are hot. They prefer soil PH from 4.5 to 7 and can develop chlorosis in higher PH soil. The Sweet Gum is not salt tolerant and should be kept free of turf competition when young. 60% of seedlings typically die in grassy areas where water competition is fierce during drought.

* photos taken on April 15 2010 in Columbia, MD



* photos taken on April 18 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.


* photos taken on May 16 2010 @ Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, MD




* photo of unknown source on internet

* photos taken on 4th of July 2010 in Washington, D.C.

* photos of unknown source on internet

* photo taken on Oct 17 2011 in Columbia, MD

* Santiago, Chile photo of unknown internet source

* photos taken on Nov 9 2011 in Columbia, MD


* photos taken on Nov 13 2011 in Columbia, MD


* photo taken on Nov 10 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 23 2015 in Ellicott City, MD

* photo taken on Oct 26 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 4 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Mar 16 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 25 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken Aug 2016 @ Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photo taken on Sep 16 2016 @ Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photo taken on Nov 5 2016 in Annapolis, MD

* photo taken on Nov 9 2016 in Annapolis, MD

* photo taken on Nov 19 2016 @ Annapolis, MD

* photos taken on Apr 14 2017 @ Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photo taken on Apr 27 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 30 2018 in Annapolis, MD

* photos taken on June 7 2019 @ Univ. of Maryland, College Park

* photo taken on July 2 2019 @ Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photos taken on Oct 22 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 6 2020 @ Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photo taken on Oct 22 2020 @ Patuxent Wildlife Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photos taken on Nov 4 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 23 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 7 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Apr 16 2023 @ Fort Hunter, Harrisburg, PA

* photo taken on Oct 7 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 24 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 14 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 19 2023 in Columbia, MD

* historical archive photos

'Aurea'
yellow striped leaves

* photo taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europe's premier plant nursery

'Cherokee'
Very cold hardy to -30 F; it is otherwise similar to species.
Fruit production is often sparser than average for species.

* photos taken on Aug 2 2012 in London, Ontario

* photos taken on Aug 30 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 25 2013 @ University of Maryland, College Park

* photo taken on Oct 21 2014 @ U.S. Botanical Gardens, Washington, DC

* photos taken on Oct 22 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 23 2022 in Burtonsville, MD

* photo taken on Aug 14 2024 @ Coventry Gardens, Windsor, ON

* photos taken on Aug 24 2024 @ Howard County Conservancy, Woodstock, MD

'Corky'
Similar to regular L. styraciflua, except for having very winged stems.

* photos taken on Mar 23 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD


* photos taken on Mar 18 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Apr 14 2017 @ Patuxent Research Refuge, Laurel, MD

* photos taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Oct 30 2018 in Annapolis, MD

* photo taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Apr 24 2022 in Wilkes-Barre, PA

* photos taken on May 6 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on July 20 2024 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 10 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

'Festeri'
An Australian variety stays green very late in the fall and holds its leaves for much of the winter. The foliage often does color to purplish-red in fall.

'Gold Beacon'
Fast growing, reaching up to 13 x 4 feet in 5 years, to 40 x 30 feet in 15 years, eventually becoming a large tree.
The foliage is lime-green, turning to golden-yellow during summer. The foliage then turns to intense orange or red during autumn.

* photos taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Aug 1 2022 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

'Golden Treasure'
foliage similar to 'Silver King' but has yellow margins. During fall the foliage often turns orange-red to deep red yet keeping its golden margins.

* photo taken by Milan Havlis, owner of central Europe's premier plant nursery

'Gumball'
A dwarf form that forms a large domed shrub, reaching a maximum size of 17 x 12 ( rarely over 7 x 6 ) feet. Some records include: 10 years - 8 feet; 27 years - 20 x 17 feet.
The glossy foliage turns to intense deep purplish-red over a long period during autumn.
It does not produce any fruit.

* photo taken on 4th of July 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.

* photo taken on Feb 8 2015 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photo taken on Apr 23 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photo taken on Aug 1 2022 in Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on July 3 2024 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Wash DC

'Happidaze'
Fast growing, up to 30 x 25 feet in 10 years; eventually much more. The branches often develop a corky habit.
The foliage is glossy, deep green turning deep maroon-red in autumn. It has well spaced branches and a dense canopy.
With no seeds; this makes for an excellent shade and street tree.
Hardy north to zone 5.

* photos taken @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* photo taken on Aug 24 2017 @ U.S. Botanic Garden, Wash. DC.

* photo taken on Nov 3 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 10 2023 @ Smithsonian Institute, Wash., DC

* photos taken on Oct 16 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 16 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Lane Roberts'
Foliage begins changing color after mid summer turning to shades of orange and deep burgundy-red in autumn. The very persistant foliage may cling on the trees until March in the Deep South.
The bark is often smooth, unusual for a Sweetgum.

* photos taken on Nov 9 2020 in Ellicott City, MD

* photos taken on Nov 17 2021 in Ellicott City, MD

* photo taken on Nov 3 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 17 2023 in Ellicott City, MD

'Moraine'
Uniform habit and rapid growing with a very dense canopy. Foliage turns deep burgundy to purple in autumn.
Orignating from a northern seed source this is a good selection for winter hardiness.

* photos taken on June 29 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 10 2023 @ Collingwood Arboretum, Collingwood, ON

'Palo Alto'
A california selection that forms a narrow pyramidal tree.
Bright orange to red autumn color lasting over a long season.

* photos taken on Nov 9 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 19 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Rotundiloba'
Thick glossy leaves with rounded lobes. Generally seedless and very vigorous in habit; growth rates as much as 5 feet may occur with ideal conditions.


* photos taken on May 16 2010 @ Cylburn Arboretum, Baltimore, MD


* photos taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.



* photo taken on Oct 23 2012 in Harford Co., MD

* photo taken on Oct 17 2013 in Harford Co., MD

* photos taken on Nov 14 2015 in Harford Co., MD

* photos taken on Oct 2 2016 in Harford Co., MD

* photos taken on Nov 13 2016 in Harford Co., MD

* photos taken on Apr 23 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Nov 9 2017 in Harford Co., MD

* photo taken on Mar 17 2018 in Harford Co., MD

* photo taken on Oct 31 2018 @ Howard Comm College, Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 10 2018 in Harford Co., MD

* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Aug 1 2022 in Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Oct 24 2022 @ Howard Community College, Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 24 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 19 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Silver King'
Rapid growing up to 20 x 15 feet in 10 years, eventually much more. Foliage is green with a broad creamy white margin. In autumn the margins turn to pink as the rest of the leaf turns red.
Hardy north to zone 5

* photos taken on May 6 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD





* photo taken on Apr 23 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photos taken on Aug 1 2022 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on May 6 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on July 3 2024 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Wash DC

* photo taken on July 10 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

'Slender Silhouette'
Better than a Lombardy Poplar; this fast growing columnar tree reaches up to 60 feet or more with a spread of only 10 feet! It is more narrow than the cultivar 'Fastigiata' which reaches up to 12 feet across. Excellent for confined areas.
THe deep green foliage turns to yellowish-orange to scarlet-red during autumn.
Fruit is rarely produced.
Hardy north to zone 5

* photos taken on Aug 5 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on Aug 30 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

* photos taken on Sep 10 2023 @ Smithsonian Institute, Wash., DC

'Variegata'
Gray-green leaves splashed with paler green and yellow blotches and streakes. The foliage turns to pink, orange and red during autumn.

'Worplesdon'
Reaches about the same size as species. This British cultivar also thrives in the Pacific Northwest as well as the usual areas Sweetgum thrives.
The long-lobed leaves have fall colors that are purple, orange and yellow, usually all at the same time.
It is a heavy rruiter.

* photos taken on Oct 22 2020 in Laurel, MD

* photo taken on Oct 29 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 3 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 7 2023 in Columbia, MD

RELATED GENUS

Semiliquidambar
A controversial genus of trees native to the Orient that are thought by some to be a series of hybrids between Altingia and Liquidambar species rather than an actual separate genus. It might take some more time to sort this botanical tangle out, however these are beautiful trees.

Semiliquidambar cathayensis
A semi-evergreen, medium-sized tree, reaching a maximum height of 66 feet, that is native to China that is threatened with extinction due to habitat loss. The trunk can be up to 2 feet in diameter, with gray bark.
The non-toothed, oblong or elliptical leaves are up to 5 x 2.4 inches in size. The leathery foliage is mid-green.
The woody rounded fruits are up to 1 inch wide.
Hardy zones 7b to 9 ( estimated, has not been thoroughly trialed outside its natural range )

* recommended photo link
https://alchetron.com/Semiliquidambar-cathayensis

Semiliquidambar caudata
An evergreen ( semi-evergreen in cooler climates ), small tree reaching a maximum height of 33 feet. It is native to far southeastern China from southern Zhejiang Province to central Fujian Province.
The leathery ovate leaves are up to 4 x 1.7 inches in size.
The fruits are a semi-rounded ball, up to 0.6 x 1 inches in size.
Hardy zones 9 to 10, in the U.S. it is likely to thrive best on the Gulf Coast, Florida and the coastal areas of Georgia and South Carolina.

Semiliquidambar chingii
A semi-evergreen large tree, reaching a maximum height of 100 feet, that is native to southeastern China. Its native forests have been severely fragmented and it is reduced to a few stands left in the wild, giving it the status of critically endangered.
The leaves can be both entire or lobed. The entire leaves are up to 4 x 2 inches in size. The leaves that are lobed are usually 3-lobed and up to 4 x 3 inches in size.
The woody globular fruits are up to 0.8 inches wide.
Hardy zones 7b to 9 ( estimated through climate mapping of natural range, has not been thoroughly trialed outside its natural range )