Sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua
A handsome native shade tree with star-shaped leaves and outstanding burgundy-purple fall color, but infamous for its hard, spiky 'gumball' seed capsules that litter lawns and roll underfoot. Corky ridges on twigs aid winter ID. Fruitless cultivars like 'Rotundiloba' sidestep the messy gumballs.
Field reference
Family
Altingiaceae
Growth rate
Moderate
Mature size
60–75 ft tall, 40–50 ft spread
Hardiness zone
5–9
Soil preference
Deep, moist, slightly acidic bottomland soils; chlorotic in high pH
Sun
Full sun
Pruning window
Late winter (dormant)
Wood properties
Moderately heavy, interlocked-grain hardwood (~0.52 SG) that warps readily when dried. Strong central leader and sound unions; corky wings on twigs are a quick ID.
Native range
Southeastern United States, Connecticut to Florida and west to Texas and Missouri
Green weight
50 lb/ft³
Pests & diseases to watch
Common questions
How do I stop the spiky gumballs?
Fruit-eliminating growth regulators sprayed at bloom can reduce set, but timing is tricky. The reliable fix is planting a fruitless cultivar such as 'Rotundiloba' instead.
Why are my sweetgum leaves yellowing on alkaline soil?
Sweetgum prefers acidic ground and develops interveinal chlorosis where soil pH is high. Acidify the soil or supply chelated iron and manganese to green it back up.
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