Whether in parks, on public squares, in avenues, on streets or elsewhere - the American sweetgum needs a sunny location. With the help of the power of the sun, it develops its characteristic autumn colors. But what other characteristics does it have?

The American sweetgum inspires with its beautiful autumn colors

The spice is in the brevity - profile

  • Latin name: Liquidambar styraciflua
  • Plant family: Hamamelidaceae (witch hazel)
  • Origin: North America
  • Growth height: 10 to 40 m
  • Foliage: simple, lobed, alternate
  • Flowering time: May
  • flowers: greenish-yellow, unisexual
  • Type of fruit: capsule fruit
  • Frost hardiness: -24 °C
  • Location: sunny to semi-shady
  • Special features: needs warmth, importance in forestry and industry, striking autumn colors

The price-intensive North American

The American sweetgum tree can be found in both eastern and western North America. It was introduced to Europe in the 17th century. In this country he proves to be in need of warmth and sensitive to frost in his youth. In terms of price, it is considered to be expensive.

An eye for detail: Its external properties

In the soil, the American sweetgum spreads its central root system far-reaching. A continuous trunk, upright striving branches and horizontal to overhanging twigs arise from it above the ground. The bark is gray and deeply furrowed. As a result, the American sweetgum tree often looks older than it is.

Overall, it reaches a growth width of 6 to 8 m. In its homeland, it can reach a height of up to 40 m. In this country it rarely grows higher than 20 m. Its growth pattern is narrow and widens with increasing age.

Foliage, flowers and fruits

Its long-stemmed leaves grow up to 20 cm long and smell pleasantly sweet when rubbed between your fingers - just like the resin that was used to make chewing gum in the past.

The flowers appear in May. The tree is monoecious and has male and female flowers. The spherical capsule fruits develop from the flowers in late summer to autumn. They are lignified and average 2 to 3 cm in size.

tips

If you don't look closely, you can quickly confuse the American sweetgum with the plane tree. Both are very similar in terms of growth, leaves and fruit. However, the plane tree has a colorful and rather smooth bark.

Category:

Trees