Liquidambar styraciflua
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Sweetgum
Altingiaceae
Plant Specifics
| Form: | Tree | |
| Size: | to 80 ft ft tall by to 30 ft ft wide | |
| Life Span: | Long-lived perennial | |
| Flower Color: | NA | |
| Fruit Color: | Brown | |
| Phenology: | Deciduous. Blooms (inconspicuous) in spring. Fruit ripens in fall. Life span: 75+ years. | |
| Noted for: | Aroma, fragrance, Fall color, Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance |
Landscaping
| Recommended Uses: | Shade tree. This is a clone former, so it can also be used to provide screening or for an "island" of habitat for wildlife | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Considerations: | Plant where its persistent bur-like fruits (gum balls) will not be underfoot. Also, its resinous leaves will stain cement driveways and car finishes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Propagation: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Availability: | Big box stores, Native nurseries, Quality nurseries | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Light: | Full Sun, Part Shade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: |
always floodedextremely dry |
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| (Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Moisture Tolerance: | Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Somewhat long very dry periods | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Water Flooding Tolerance: | Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance: | Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil or other substrate: | Clay, Loam, Sand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Soil pH: | Prefers acid but adaptable. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology
| Wildlife: |
Provides cover for birds and other animals. | |
| Insects: | Larval host plant for luna (Actias luna) moths. | |
| Native Habitats: | Dry-moist sites. River bottoms, upland hardwood forests, roadsides. |
Distribution and Planting Zones
Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones
Suitable to grow in:
8A 8B 9A 9B
USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures