Foliage
Bud
Flower
Fruit
Video
Taxonomy
| Family | Hamamelidaceae |
|---|---|
| Genus | Liquidambar |
| Species | styraciflua |
| Common Name | American sweetgum, sweetgum |
| iTree Code | LIST2 |
Plant Form
| Form | Tree: large, pyramidal crown |
|---|---|
| Height | 100 feet |
| Spread | 60 feet |
| Deciduous | Yes |
Identification Description
| Foliage | green, star-shaped with 5-7 pointed lobes | Leaf Type
 |
Simple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needles | 0 | ||
| Bark | gray/brown, smooth developing deep furrows with rounded ridges | ||
| Bud | green to red/purple, plump coming to a point with overlapping scales (imbricate) | Bud Arrangement
|
Alternate |
| Twig | moderately stout, red to yellow/brown, often with corky-wings, aromatic | ||
| Flower | female: rounded, 2-beaked; male: upright, panicle; male and female on same tree (monoecious) | ||
| Fruit | globe-shaped, composite of capsules, opening (dehiscent) into beak-like structure; hanging on 2-3" stem | ||
| Fall Color | red, purple, yellow | ||
Site Characteristics
| USDA Zones
|
pH Levels | Salt Tolerance | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min | 5a | Min | 4.5 | Soil | Intolerant |
| Max | 9b | Max | 7.0 | Spray | Intolerant |
| Shade Tolerance | Drought Tolerance | Allelopathy |
|---|---|---|
| Intolerant | Low | No |
Species Status
| Nebraska Native | |
|---|---|
| U.S. Native |
|
| Region of Origin | United States, Mexico |
| More Information | Visit External Site |