Liquidambar styraciflua

Liquidambar, Sweetgum, American Sweetgum

A striking specimen tree with sustained and reliable autumn colour.

Features: Brilliant autumn colour - yellow, orange red or purple.
Applications: Specimen and shade tree in gardens and parks. Lawn tree.
Description The Liquidambar is native to the warm temperate areas of eastern North America. A medium-to-large tree that has become well known as a tough and attractive speciment tree in the right climates and sites, ideal for larger gardens and parks and an excellent shade tree. The Liquidambar has distinctive star-shaped leaves - generally a lush deep green colour but variously bright yellow, orange, red or purple for autumn and grows in an upright, somewhat conical form. Fruits are also distinctive - a spiky and firm 'dingle-ball' which appear in winter, then fall to the ground and on occasions, may need to be cleaned from some sites as they are slow to break down. It matures into a spreading, sizeable tree with an extensive, shallow root system so ensure an appropriate site and adequate space. It is generally tolerant of most soils and is suited to lawn plantings.
Availability: Champion Lakes, Torbay : 45L
Mature height: 15-25
Mature spread: 4-8
Canopy: Broadly conical, initially slender but later more ovoid. Moderate shade (seasonal).
Growth rate: Moderate
Cautions: Extensive shallow roots are sensitive to disturbance or compaction. Not suited to densely compacted soils. Sensitive to frost when young. Tolerant of coastal regions but not of salt or salt spray.
Tolerances: Tolerates floods. Mild drought tolerance when established.
Sun demands: Full sun is best, needs warmth.
Soil demands: Prefers moist, deep and fertile soils. Acid to neutral. Dislikes alkaline soils. Dislikes dense soils.
Water demands: Moderate
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Native or Exotic: Exotic
Leaf habit: Deciduous
Family: Hamamelidaceae
   
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Additional references and recommended reading:

Boland, D. J. et al (2006) "Forest Trees of Australia" 5th Edition, Australia: CSIRO Publishing.

Gilman, Edward F. (1997) "Trees for Urban and Suburban Landscapes", Florida: Delmar Cengage Learning.

Lorenz von Ehren "Von Ehren Manual" 2nd Edition, Hamburg.

Rushforth, K. (2001) "Easy Tree Guide, Britain and Europe", London: Aurum Press.

Urban Forests Ecosystems Institute, "SelecTree - A Tree Selection Guide" retrieved from http://selectree.calpoly.edu/treelist.lasso 2009.

Disclaimer:
Torbay Treefarmers makes all information on this website available in good faith to customers, based on experience, general knowledge and research and in so doing, makes no guarantee in any way about the accuracy or usefulness of this information, nor is any warranty made or inferred by the supply of this information, nor can Torbay Treefarmers be held responsible or accountable for any loss, harm or damage that may arise from the use or availability of any information on this website.


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