Donate by December 31 to plant trees in forests in need and be entered to win a trip for two to a national park of your choice. Learn more Donate by December 31 and be entered to win a trip for two to a national forest. Learn more
arborday.org
Track Order
Search
Shopping cart Close
You have no items in your shopping cart.
 
SHOP
Tree Nursery
Tree Nursery
Purchases from our nursery also plant trees in recovering forests, making the world greener in your yard and around the world.
Shipping Schedule
Shop all tree nursery

Fast-Growing Trees

Flowering Trees

Fruit & Nut Trees

Evergreen Trees

Shade Trees

potted trees at a tree nursery.

Potted Trees  

tree seedlings and planting gloves.

Bulk Seedlings  

Shop all tree nursery
Tree Dedication
Tree Dedication
Change the world for someone who’s changed yours by planting commemorative trees in forests in need.
Shop all Tree dedication

Trees in Celebration

Trees in Memory

Trees for Pets

 

 
Apparel
Apparel
Every apparel purchase supports planting projects around the globe. Changing the world never looked so good.
Shop all apparel
Shop Sale
Arbor Day Foundation t-shirts

Shirts  

Arbor Day Foundation baseball cap, beanie, and bucket hat

Hats  

Arbor Day Foundation socks

Socks  

Greeting Cards
Greeting cards
Send greetings with even more meaning with cards that plant trees.

Shop all Greeting Cards

Birthday

Care & Concern

Thank You

Corporate

 

Just Because

popup card of a weeping willow in winter scene

Popup Cards  

boxed set of greeting cards with a forest and mountain scene on the first card

Boxed Sets  

Coffee
Coffee
Brew a better world with our premium-grade specialty beans. This ethically sourced coffee supports planting trees in forests in need.
Shop our Limited Edition Holiday Blend
Shop all Coffee

Arbor Day Blend

Decaf Arbor Day Blend

Italian Roast

La Sombra Blend

Coffee Club

Gift Coffee

 
Shop all coffee
Gifts
Gifts
Give the gift of a healthier planet to any nature-lover with merch that supports planting projects.
Shop all Gifts
Shop Holiday Guide
mug with lid that reads plant trees

Drinkware  

perspective of a person reading a tree guide while on a trail

Books  

tote bag with line art of leaves, wooden covered notepads, and a wooden ornament with an owl

Accessories  

Shop Holiday Guide
Donate
You have no items in your shopping cart.
ss-standard-date
Picture of American Sweetgum
Picture of American Sweetgum
American Sweetgum - Liquidambar styraciflua
American Sweetgum - Liquidambar styraciflua
American Sweetgum - Liquidambar styraciflua
American Sweetgum - Liquidambar styraciflua

American Sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua


Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9   View Map
  • Features star-shaped leaves with 5 lobes (occasionally 7) that are lustrous medium green in color, toothed along the margins, and 4–7½" in length
  • Provides brilliant fall color, with leaves turning brilliant shades of yellow, orange, red, and purple
  • Yields long-stemmed, woody, burr-like fruit that is approximately 1½" in diameter
  • Grows in a pyramidal shape, becoming more oval or rounded with age
  • Needs plenty of space for root development
  • Does not tolerate pollution
Pricing Information

Tree Details

Shape

Oval

Growth Speed

Medium to Fast

Scientific Name

Liquidambar styraciflua

Mature Height

60' - 75'

Mature Spread

40' - 50'

Shipping Height

2' - 4'

Highlights

The American sweetgum — with its star-shaped leaves, neatly compact crown, interesting fruit, and twigs with unique corky growths called wings — is an attractive shade tree. It has become a prized specimen in parks, campuses, and large yards across the country.

If you’ve got the space and are looking to add some fall color, this tree is a sure bet. The glossy green leaves turn beautiful shades of yellow, orange, red, and purple in the autumn.

Sun Preference

Full Sun

Soil Preference

Acidic, Clay, Drought, Loamy, Moist, Sandy, Well Drained, Wet

Wildlife Value

American sweetgum seeds are eaten by eastern goldfinches, purple finches, sparrows, mourning doves, northern bobwhites and wild turkeys. Small mammals such as chipmunks, red squirrels and gray squirrels also enjoy the fruits and seeds.

History/Lore

The Sweetgum tree is native to the southeastern United States and a member of a genus made up of only six species. The others are found only in Asia. The first historical reference to the tree comes from the author and soldier, Don Bernal Diaz del Castillo, who accompanied Cortez in 1519 and was a witness to ceremonies between Cortez and Montezuma, who both partook of a liquid amber extracted from a sweetgum tree. The tree itself was first noticed and recorded by the historian Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca in 1542. Once commercially popular for soaps, adhesives and pharmaceuticals, today its wood is valuable for fine furniture and interior finishing.

Account Login

Forgot your password?
Login
or
Register here

Reset Password

Please enter your email address to receive a verification code and reset your password.
Submit
or
Login

Get the Latest in Your Inbox