Liquidambar styraciflua

sweet gum, red gum, sap gum

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Photo credit: Christopher F. Miller, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, New Jersey.
Family

Hamamelidaceae

Region

Coastal Plain, Mountain, Piedmont

States

Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New York, Virginia

Plant Type

Tall Tree (Canopy)

Height

60 - 100ft

Spread

50 - 75ft

Flower Color

Green, Yellow

Fruit

Capsule; Brown

Sun Exposure

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Soil Texture

Clay, Loamy, Sandy

Soil Moisture

Moist, Wet

Blooms

April - May

Fall Color

yellow, red

Habitat

mesic, upland woods, slopes, ravines, floodplains, and streambanks

Notes

; Leaves attractively colored in fall; wood used for housing, boxes, and veneer; several species of songbirds and squirrels eat the seeds; beaver use this species freely when available

More Information

Landscaping with Native Plants
Native Plant List
How to Shop for Native Plants
Plant Invaders of the Mid Atlantic

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Resources

The Native Plants Guide

Physiographic Regions of Chesapeake Watershed

Mountain
Piedmont
Coastal Plain