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Sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua

Other common name(s):

American Sweetgum, Red Gum, White Gum, Star-leaved Gum, Starleaf Gum, Alligator Tree, Satin Walnut, Bilsted, Liquidambar

Family:

Altingiaceae (Sweet Gum Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

50
to
60
ft.

Spread

20
to
30
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Acid, Well Drained, Saline

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Medium, High

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Green

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Fall Color, Seeds, Larval Host

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals

Maintenance

If necessary, prune for shape. It is not drought-tolerant and does not do well in small areas which limit root development. It grows rapidly and is long-lived, adapting to a variety of sites. Propagation: Seed, Stem cuttings.

Comments

Palmate leaves are star-shaped with 5 lobes. The fruit is a globular, spiky, woody ball. Vivid fall color is yellow to red. Many species of birds and squirrels enjoy the seeds. Larval Host: Edwards’ Hairstreak (Satyrium edwardsii)

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 3) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 335. 4) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LIST2. 5) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Liquidambar+styraciflua&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 6) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=449&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 7) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=19027#null

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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