Liquidambar styraciflua – American red gum, Sweet gum

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Hamamelidaceae

Liquidambar styraciflua – American red gum, Sweet gum

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In its natural habitat it grows to 40 m in height but when cultivated it seldom grows taller than 25 - 30 m. The crown grows in a narrow pyramidal manner at first with an ascending, vertical trunk. When the tree is older the branches grow out wider so that the crown becomes ovoid. The grey trunk has deep grooves. Young twigs are yellowish-green and turn reddish-brown. Older branches develop thick grey corky wings that sometimes fall off. The leaves are 5-lobed (sometimes 7-lobed) and the leaf edge is serrated. They are 8 - 16 cm long and 10 - 20 cm wide. The intense autumn colours are varied: wine-red with yellow, orange and violet and all kinds of shades. When the tree is planted on a humid site the leaves turn more violet. The fruit capsules appear after the unremarkable flowering and they remain hanging on the tree until deep into winter. Is not resistant to long-lasting dry periods. Because the trunk is almost dead straight up to the top of the crown, the sweet gum is eminently useful as an avenue tree.
Our trees can only be planted when they don't have any leaves. Due to the this we will start delivering again from November 2024.
Availability
Container (5) Clear stem (9) Feathered (3) Multi-stem (4) Topiary (3)
Size
Root ball size
Packaging
Amount
Delivery period
18-20 clearstem
∅60cm / 150KG
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
∅60cm / 150KG
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Available
20-25 clearstem
∅70cm / 250KG
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
∅70cm / 250KG
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Available
25-30 clearstem
∅80cm / 360KG
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
∅80cm / 360KG
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Available
30-35 clearstem
∅90cm / 550KG
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
∅90cm / 550KG
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Available
45-50 clearstem
∅120cm / 1000KG
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
∅120cm / 1000KG
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Limited stock
50-60 clearstem
∅130cm / 1500KG
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
∅130cm / 1500KG
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Available
60-70 clearstem
∅140-150cm / 1750-2000KG
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
∅140-150cm / 1750-2000KG
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Available
80-90 clearstem
∅180-200cm / 3500-4500KG
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
∅180-200cm / 3500-4500KG
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Limited stock
90-100 clearstem
∅200+cm / 4500-5500KG
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
∅200+cm / 4500-5500KG
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Limited stock
Size
Root ball size
Packaging
Amount
Delivery period
12-14 feathered
∅ 40cm / 50KG
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
∅ 40cm / 50KG
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Available
45-50 feathered
∅120cm / 1000KG
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
∅120cm / 1000KG
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Limited stock
50-60 feathered
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Limited stock
Size
Root ball size
Packaging
Amount
Delivery period
250/300 multistem
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Available
500/600h, multistem with raised stems
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Available
500/600H,300/400W
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Available
600/700h, multistem with raised stems
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Available
Size
Root ball size
Packaging
Amount
Delivery period
40-45 tabletop
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Limited stock
40-45 espalier 5 layers
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Limited stock
45-50 tabletop
Wire rootballed
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Root ball size
Packaging
Wire rootballed
Delivery period
Available from november! Pre-order now!
Stock
Limited stock
Specifications
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Height
25 - 30 (40) m, fast growing
Crown
pyramidal, later broad ovoid, half-open crown, capricious growing
Bark and branches
dark grey, deeply grooved, corky wings on branches and twigs
Leaf
palmate lobed, 5-lobed, dark green, 8 - 16 cm long
Autumn colour
yellow, orange, red, purple
Flowers
yellowish-green, unremarkable, April/May
Fruits
round, spiky fruit capsule on a long stalk, approx. 3 - 3.5 cm in length
Spines/thorns
None
Toxicity
usually not toxic to people, (large) pets and livestock
Soil type
fertile loamy soil
Soil moisture
suitable for wet soil, withstand short flood, withstand long flood
Paving
tolerates paving
Winter hardiness zone
5b (-26,0 to -23,4 °C)
Wind resistance
moderate
Other resistances
resistant to frost (WH 1 - 6)
Application
avenues and broad streets
Shape
clearstem tree, feathered tree, multi-stem treem, trained on trunk, screenform on trunk, roof
Origin
eastern North America
Clear stem tree feathered tree Multi-stem tree Roof Screen on stem Espalier on stem acid soil clay soil loamy soil peaty soil sandy soil tolerates paving light-loving resistant to frost (WH 1 - 6) suitable for wet soil withstand long flood withstand short flood broad ovoid 1st size , taller than 12 metres half-open crown green yellowgreen late sprout fast growing all species Attractive autumn colour non-toxic (usually) Capricious growing Ornamental fruit playground tree Tree for the future
Applications and inspiration
Clear stem, branched or multi-stem tree?
Shaped trees and espaliers: the solution where there is little space!
Related projects
SQP (South Quay Plaza ) - London
City centre - Nieuwegein
De Haenen Golf Park - Teteringen
Frequently asked questions
Liquidambar styraciflua

Liquidambar styraciflua can eventually reach a height of 25 - 30 (40) m, fast growing, depending on the site and climate conditions.

Liquidambar styraciflua is fast growing and can eventually reach a height of 25 - 30 (40) m, fast growing, depending on the site and climate conditions.

The leaves of Liquidambar styraciflua turn yellow, orange, red, purple in autumn.

The right time to plant Liquidambar styraciflua is during the dormancy period. In Western Europe, Liquidambar styraciflua with root balls can generally be planted from mid-November to late April, although this depends strongly on the climatic conditions and the species of tree.

Liquidambar styraciflua blooms in april.
General