American Sweet Gum Tree Leaf

Some people refer to these leaves as having a star form or a maple like.

American sweet gum tree leaf. Liquidambar styraciflua is known as the american sweetgum. The tree itself was first noticed and recorded by the historian alvar nunez. American sweetgum liquidambar styraciflua 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. Sweetgum is a pioneer species often found after an area has been logged or clearcut and one of the most common tree species in the eastern united states.

On some trees the branches are winged as on winged euonymus. Liquidambar commonly called sweetgum star gum in the uk gum redgum satin walnut or american storax is the only genus in the flowering plant family altingiaceae and has 15 species. Styraciflua is a deciduous tree to 20m tall broadly conical in outline with rather glossy maple like 5 to 7 lobed leaves which turn to shades of orange crimson and purple in autumn plant range eastern usa. Features of american sweetgum.

The star like leaf has 5 or 7 lobes or points and turns from green in summer to yellow or purple in autumn. Sweet gum is one of the main valuable forest trees in the southeastern united states and is a popular ornamental tree in temperate climates. American sweetgum can reach 80 feet in height at maturity with a spread of about 60 feet. It is a deciduous tree that can be found in southeastern u s as well as southern mexico and central america.

The sweetgum tree is native to the southeastern united states and a member of a genus made up of only six species. Department of agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 to 9 in full sun. The fruit is a conspicuous spiked ball that hangs in. This tree may also be found in mixed woodlands.

Sweet gum trees are native to the eastern u s but grow well throughout u s. The sweetgum is a fast growing tree that develops a significant taproot that tolerate high moisture levels in soil. This list includes sycamore yellow poplar and sweetgum trees. The tree prefers moist slightly acidic soil but.

Like the maple tree these species have leaves whose ribs or veins radiate out from a single stalk or petiole attachment in a palmate pattern that is the lobes resemble a set of fingers. It is easily recognized by its star shaped leaves and its woody spiny ball like fruit. This leaf is borne on corky winged limbs and the bark is gray brown deeply furrowed with narrow ridges. They are decorative deciduous trees that are used in the wood industry and for ornamental purposes.

The leaves which are five lobed and shaped like stars provide excellent fall foliage color. In some cases at the peak of the fall foliage season certain leaves may be red others purple others yellow and still others orange all on the same plant. The others are found only in asia.