Deep green glossy leaves are shaped like starfish. Foliage can turn a medley of yellow, orange, purple and red on a single tree. Golfball-size brown fruit with sharp points form in fall (considered a nuisance in traditional landscapes).
Native Plant Database
Header Photo: Mervin Wallace
Sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua
Plant Type: Trees
Native Environment: Forest
Season of Interest: Late (July - frost)
Main Color: Green
Fall Color: Red
USDA PLANTS Range Map
At the range map link above, zoom in for county-level data
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Medium Sun/Average Shade
Soil
Moisture
High
Nature Attracting
Wildlife Benefit
Food/Birds, Nesting
Animal
Resistance
Size
Height:
60 to
90
feet
Spread:
60 to
80
feet
Size
Height: 60 to
90
feet
Spread: 60 to
80
feet
Size
Height: 60 to
90
feet
Spread: 60 to
80
feet
Typical Landscape Use
Good shade tree for large areas. The root system needs adequate space to develop.
Establishment and Care Instructions
Plant in deep, moist soil in full sun. Trees may be slow to establish after transplanting due to sensitive root systems.
Special Features
Interesting Bark
Special Usage
Salt Tolerant
Basic Description
Where Should I Start?
Check out the Grow Native! Committee’s Top Ten picks of native plants for a particular purpose.
What’s the Next Step?
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Where Can I Find This Plant in Nature?
Learn about the Native Environment(s) inhabited by the plants in this database.