Sweet Gum Tree 80/100cm (5L)

Sweet Gum Tree – Liquidambar styraciflua is a large deciduous tree grown above all for its autumn colour, which can run through amber, orange, scarlet, crimson and deep burgundy-purple, often with several shades present on the same branch. The glossy, five to seven lobed leaves are maple-like in outline but arranged alternately along the shoots rather than in opposite pairs, a simple way to tell the two apart. In summer the canopy is a rich mid to dark green with a slight sheen, casting dappled shade beneath a neat, broadly conical crown.

This specimen is supplied at 80/100cm in a 5L pot, a manageable size for planting out that establishes quickly while still allowing you to shape the tree from an early stage. Young plants grow with a strong central leader and need very little formative pruning, gradually broadening as they mature into a well-proportioned, pyramidal outline.

Beyond the foliage there is plenty of secondary interest. Mature trees develop corky, fissured bark, and some shoots produce distinctive corky wings along the stems, which are easy to appreciate once the leaves have dropped. Spiky, spherical seed capsules hang from the branches into winter and are often collected for dried arrangements. Spring flowers are small and greenish-yellow, more curiosity than spectacle.

Sweet Gum is a good choice for a larger garden, a long lawn, a parkland-style planting or an avenue where there is room for the crown to develop fully. It is best given space rather than squeezed against a house, as the root system and eventual size both need consideration. Wildlife value is modest but the dense summer canopy offers useful cover for nesting birds.

Care Guide

Plant between autumn and early spring while the tree is dormant, avoiding waterlogged or frozen ground. Choose a position in full sun or very light shade; deep shade reduces the intensity of autumn colour considerably.

Soil is the key factor for success in the British climate. Sweet Gum performs best in moist but well-drained, fertile, neutral to acidic soil. On thin chalk or strongly alkaline ground the leaves are prone to yellowing between the veins, so improve the planting area generously with leaf mould or composted bark, or choose a different tree.

Dig a square planting hole two to three times the width of the rootball but no deeper, and firm the soil gently around the roots. Stake the tree low with a short stake and tie for the first two or three years, checking ties each spring. Water thoroughly every week through the first two summers, and during any prolonged dry spell thereafter.

Apply a 5/7cm mulch of well-rotted compost or bark each spring, keeping it clear of the trunk. Feeding is rarely necessary on reasonable soil; a general-purpose fertiliser in spring will help trees on poor or sandy ground.

Fully hardy across Britain. Prune only in late autumn or winter to remove dead, damaged or crossing branches, as the tree bleeds sap if cut in spring.

Ultimate height
Higher than 12 metres

Time to ultimate height
20–50 years

Ultimate spread
8–12 metres

Please note: Decorative pots shown are for display purposes only. Your tree will be supplied in a standard plastic nursery pot shown in the other pictures.