This leaf is borne on corky-winged limbs and the bark is gray-brown, deeply furrowed with narrow ridges. It can be an excellent shade tree in the right location, away from foot traffic where the spiky "gumball" fruits will not be an annoyance. The foliage is palmate, like a maple leaf, but more deeply lobed and star shaped. In the autumn the whole ground under the tree is often covered with seeds. The deeply cut grey or brownish-grey bark forms winged projections on the twigs. The glossy, dark green, star shaped leaves take on an wonderful array of colors in the fall, ranging from clear yellow to orange, red or burgundy. Sweet Gum Healing. Within a submenu, use escape to move to top level menu parent. The sweetgum is a typical southern bottomland tree that occurs most abundantly on moist, rich, alluvial soils in association with many other species in valleys, swamps, and near ponds and streams. The leaf will have a saw-tooth or serrated edge. The leaves, which are five-lobed and shaped like stars, provide excellent fall foliage color. This plant has some cultivated varieties. The leaves of the Sweetgum is hand shaped, lobed with typically five leaf tips. The Morton Arboretum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on the generosity of members and donors. Along the rivers of the south-eastern United States, Sweet gums exceed 125 ft. in height and 4 ft. in diameter. In the winter, you will also be able to recognize this tree by the spherical, dark brown, and spiky gumballs that often litter the surrounding area. 50 AMERICAN SWEETGUM Liquidambar Styraciflua Storax Alligator Sweet Gum Tree Seeds - Great Fall Color! Sweet gum tree leaves are star-shaped, with palmately-lobed simple leaves that have five even lobes pointed on the ends and spread out like an open hand. Leaf Type: Simple Leaf Arrangement: Alternate Leaf Shape: Deltoid Palmasect Leaf Margin: Dentate Serrate Hairs Present: No Leaf Length: 3-6 inches Leaf Width: 3-6 inches Leaf Description: The Sweetgum tree has alternate, simple, serrate, palmate venation, glossy, deciduous, long-stalked, deep green leaves (4-8” across) with toothed margins. Sweet gum … Young trees have a conical form; older trees are gracefully spreading, with scaly, dark gray bark. It can be found throughout most of the United States as a forest tree in the Southeast and an ornamental in gardens and cities. Native to Eastern United States, from Southwestern Connecticut to Florida. Non-showy, drooping female flowers are yellowish-green in early spring. American sweetgum, also known as American storax, hazel pine, bilsted, redgum, satin-walnut, star-leaved gum, alligatorwood, or simply sweetgum, is a deciduous tree in the genus Liquidambar native to warm temperate areas of eastern North America and tropical montane regions of Mexico and Central America. It ranges from the southwestern part of Connecticut to central Florida, west to Texas and north to Southern Illinois. The clefts between the lobes are deep, reaching almost all the way to the leaf margin. The dark to medium glossy green leaves change to a kaleidoscope of yellow, red, purple tones in the fall. The star-shaped leaves are lustrous green in summer, turning dark red in fall. The leaves are arranged in an alternating structure. An upright, oval habit with excellent red fall color. Foliage turns yellow to burgundy in fall. Slow to establish. The leaf margin is serrated. It might be the color that gives them away, or the arrangement of the leaves within the foliage in general, or even the exact shape of specific leaf types. Mature trees have a grayish brown, deeply furrowed bark with narrow ridges. From shop MythicalDesigns. On some trees, the branches are \"winged,\" as on winged euonymus (burning bush), displaying corky flanges. Leaves have a camphor-like smell when crushed. If an appropriate space is available, check out the cold-hardy cultivar, 'Moraine', which is recommended for northern Illinois. Grafted. The branches are light brown and often corky. The leaves emit a foul smell if crushed or damaged. Latin Name: The Latin name for this tree species is Liquidambar styraciflua.It is a member of the Altingiaceae family and is sometimes classified in the Hamamelidaceae (witch hazel) family. This cultivar of Sweetgum grows in a narrow pyramid to a height of 75 feet and may spread to 50 feet. Unique foliage has rounded lobes, unlike other sweetgums turning hues of purple in autumn. Slender Silhouette is a beanpole of a plant, growing 50 feet tall or higher, with a spread of 5 feet at the base. American sweetgum can reach 80 feet in height at maturity, with a spread of about 60 feet. Fall color yellow-orange. The beautifully glossy, star-shaped leaves turn bright red-purple in the fall (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7) and early winter (USDA hardiness zones 8 and 9). ), palmate; acuminate tips and cordate to truncate bases. Fast-growing to 40 to 50 feet high, 25 to 30 feet wide. Alternate, maple-like, star shaped leaves are 5 to 7 lobed and 4 to 8 inches long and wide with serrate margins. Transplant difficult due to shallow, fleshy root system. The alternate, palmate, shiny leaves have usually five pointed, finely toothed lobes, and are fragrant when bruised. The American sweetgum is a large shade tree with an ovular shape. Common Facts . If an appropriate space is available, check out the cold-hardy cultivar, 'Moraine', which is recommended for northern Illinois. The sweet gum tree is most well known for its star shaped leaves that turn shades of yellow, orange, red, and purple in the fall. sweet-gum, American sweet-gum, sweet gum, sweetgum. Sweet-gum is known for its unique star-shaped leaves with outstanding yellow, red, and purple fall color. The American Sweetgum (or "Sweet Gum") tree is popular all over the world as a shade tree, but this variegated version doubles as a dazzling ornamental tree, too. Maple leaves resemble sweetgum leaves and each other in their palmate shape. The sweet gum resembles a maple tree, and in the summer, the star-shaped leaves and sturdy trunk are impressive, if easily overlooked. This handsome shade or street tree has a narrow form in youth, more rounded with age. , because it has beautiful autumn colors a foul smell if crushed damaged! 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