| Liquidambar / Sweet Gum | (Liquidambar sp.) | C,S % |
| can be used instead of Japanese Maple; prefers a neutral or slightly acid soil mix; remove all large terminal buds from the branches in the spring to encourage side buds; repot less often; can throw occasional large/disproportioned leaves; give as much sun as possible to set up good autumn coloring; you don’t have to leaf prune this plant. [Hamamelidaceae; Saxifragales]
General Information: Sweetgum grows naturally in a narrow pyramid. It has glossy, star-shaped leaves which turn bright red, purple, yellow or orange in the fall/early winter. The trunk is normally straight and does not divide into multiple trunks. The bark becomes deeply ridged. It is native to North America. Family: Hamamelidaceae. Lighting: Will grow in full sun or partial shade. Temperature: Zones 5B – 10A. More restricted zones may apply to some of the dwarf varieties. Watering: It is moderately drought tolerant. Fertilizing: To retain and produce small leaves, do not feed high nitrogen fast-acting fertilizers. Feeding three times a year is sufficient to maintain good color and healthy growth without enlarging the size of the leaves. Pruning and wiring: Much shaping can be done by pruning. Propagation: Cuttings, seeds. Repotting: They transplant well. Any type of soil with a pH of 7 or less, and with good drainage seems to grow them well. They have heavy root growth so must have root room. Pests and diseases: Bagworm, fall webworm, leaf miner, cottony-cushion scale, sweetgum scale, walnut scale, and tent caterpillars. Diseases include canker and leaf spots. Bibliography: Compiled by Thomas L. Zane |