« Browse By Botanical Name

Liquidambar styraciflua

Accession Count: 0
Common Name: American sweet gum
Family Name: Altingiaceae
Botanical Name: Liquidambar styraciflua
Synonyms:
Botanical Synonyms: Liquidambar barbata, Liquidambar gummifera, Liquidambar macrophylla, Liquidamber styracifula mexicana
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Compound: Liq sty
Geographic Origin: Eastern North America
Ecozone Origin: Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
American Sweet Gum, a tree that blooms of greenish 
yellow flowers, is a rapidly growing tree from the Southern
states including the Mississippi Valley. Considering the American Sweet Gum can grow up to 100 feet tall, it is popular in the Southwest region because it provides shade (2).
Cultivation Notes:
The American Sweet Gum uses vegetative reproduction(1).  This means that mulicellular structures drop off the parent plant that are genetically identical to the parent plant.
Ethnobotany:
The American Sweet Gum may be used for some medicines like ointments and syrups that are used  for treating diarrhea. This plant can also be used in wood production, but interestingly enough, the sap from the tree is hardened and can be used for chewing gum.(4)
Height: 50 - 100 feet
Width: 50 - 100 feet
Growth Rate: Fast Growing
Grow Season: Spring
Flower Season: Spring
Color: Green
Function: Shade
Spread: Spreading
Allergen: Non-allergenic
Invasive: Invasive
Toxicity: Benign
Hardy: Semi-hardy
Water Use: Moderate Water Use
Citations:
  1. 3. 4. Encyclopedia of Life
  2.  Burns, Russell M., and Barbara H. Honkala, 1990. Silvics of North America: 1. 
Conifers; 2. Hardwoods. Agriculture Handbook 654 (Supersedes Agriculture 
Handbook 271,Silvics of Forest Trees of the United States, 1965). U.S. 
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington, DC. vol.2, 877 pp
     
Alert

Liquidambar styraciflua