Sweet Gum
Liquidambar styraciflua
Grown for the autumn color, which only arrives in full sun — but keep it off paths, where the spiky seed balls gather.
Light Full sun, which is what brings on the autumn color.
Water Regular water while young; established trees handle drought.
Height 12 m
Spread 19 ft 8 in
Spacing 600 cm
Spacing & sowing
- Plant spacing
- 19 ft 8 in
- In-row spacing
- 19 ft 8 in
- Between rows
- 24 ft 7 in
- Square-foot density
- Not suited to SFG
Growing
- Type
- Tree · Perennial
- Botanical family
- Mixed / other
- Sunlight
- Full sun, which is what brings on the autumn color.
- Watering
- Regular water while young; established trees handle drought.
- Feeding
- Compost mulch in spring, and no feeding at all once established.
- Frost tolerant
- Yes
- Flowering
- May
- Pruning
- Late winter, and few cuts at that.
Through the year
- Apr–May Bud Break
- May–Nov Flowering
- Nov–Dec Leaf Fall
- Jan–Apr Leaf Fall
Pests & problems
- Coral spot Coral spot on dead wood
- Iron chlorosis Iron chlorosis on alkaline soils
- Spiky seed balls underfoot — a trip hazard on paths
The Cottage Garden Companion — the gardener's herbarium at cottagegardencompanion.com