Liquidambar styracifluaIndiana Native
American Sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua - Habit - Summer

Family:

Altingiaceae (Sweetgum Family) 6

Genus:

Liquidambar (Sweetgum) 6

Plant Type:

Tree 564

Growth Forms:

Upright 563

Hardiness:

USDA Zone 5 246

Deciduous / Evergreen:

Deciduous 828

Flower Notes:

Yellow (Yellow-green in spring; monoecious; not ornamentally importantYellow-green in spring; not ornamentally important)

Foliage Notes:

Green (Lustrous dark green star-shaped leaves in the summer); Multi-Colored (The stunning fall foliage ranges from scarlet to orange to yellow to bronze, sometimes all at once)

Stem Notes:

slender to stout, rounded or somewhat angled

Fruit Notes:

Brown (Interesting, round, multi-horned fruits beginning green, maturing brown; can cause litter problems)

Ultimate Height:

60-75 feet

Ultimate Spread:

40-60 feet

Bloom Times:

Fruiting Times:

Light Requirements:

Soil Water Requirements:

Medium 167

Soil Notes:

Widely adapted to different soils

Range:

Eastern United States and into Mexico

Maintenance:

Low 239

Diagnostic Characteristics:

Leaves alternate, simple, 4-7.5" long and wide, star-shaped (5-7 pointed lobes), and finely serrate. Ovate buds (0.25-0.5" long) are reddish green-brown. Stems are rounded to somewhat angled, often developing corky wings. Sap has gum-like consistency.

Ecological Functions:

Special Characteristics:

Additional Information

Handsome shade tree with few troubles and outstanding seasonal interest. Widely adapted to soils and climates, as evidenced by its wide range. Fall foliage coloration varies greatly in timing and intensity among individuals. Rather difficult to transplant in large sizes. Varies widely in hardiness. Select native northern stock for use in North. Horned fruits can be a serious litter problem, dulling mower blades and injuring bare feet. Also see Liquidambar styraciflua (Shuttle Gum Group).

Plant Photo Gallery

Habit - Summer

Habit - Fall

Leaf

Foliage

Fall Leaf

Fall Leaves

Fall Leaf

Bark

Fruits in Winter

Winter Interest

Unripe Fruit

Flowers

Buds in Spring

Fall Foliage

Variations in Fall Habit

Bark

Buds

Winged Branches

Old Fruit

Winter Habit

Flowers and Foliage

Flowers and Emerging Leaves

Flowers and Foliage

When Liquidambar styraciflua has been observed flowering or fruiting at Purdue University

Flowering

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Fruiting

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

146 Liquidambar styraciflua found

Building Map...

= Heritage plant = Memorial plant

Number	Accession ID	Location
1	2009_13743*A	HORTPARK	Heritage Plant
2	2009_11376*A	PAO
3	ORIG_3859*A	HLTP
4	ORIG_3228*A	PGG
5	ORIG_8547*A	HLTP
6	2010_05601*A	PGMD
7	ORIG_6971*A	LYNN
8	2010_05596*A	PGMD
9	ORIG_7882*A	PICK	Heritage Plant Dedicated/Memorial Plant
10	ORIG_0920*A	MTHW
11	ORIG_0669*A	DUHM
12	ORIG_3685*A	PICK
13	ORIG_3226*A	PGG
14	ORIG_1514*A	ENAD
15	ORIG_4567*A	HARR
16	ORIG_0361*A	MRDH
17	ORIG_7363*A	VPRB
18	ORIG_3918*A	HLTP
19	ORIG_2643*A	HEAV
20	2010_01910*A	WILY
21	2016_00105*A	HLTP
22	2009_11411*A	DAUC
23	ORIG_8530*A	MCUT
24	ORIG_1345*A	CL50
25	ORIG_0528*A	WOOD
26	2010_05564*A	PGMD
27	ORIG_1186*A	REC
28	ORIG_4541*A	HARR
29	ORIG_0346*A	MRDH
30	ORIG_8186*A	MEMMALL
31	ORIG_0604*A	VAWT
32	ORIG_1778*A	RHPH
33	ORIG_0155*A	FWLR
34	ORIG_0005*A	HERL
35	ORIG_0179*A	HNLY
36	2009_13693*A	HORTPARK
37	ORIG_4411*A	WILY
38	ORIG_7364*A	VPRB
39	2010_05600*A	PGMD
40	ORIG_1346*A	CL50
41	ORIG_1184*A	REC
42	2009_13061*A	HORTPARK
43	ORIG_0821*A	LILY
44	ORIG_4327*A	TARK
45	ORIG_6483*A	LILY
46	ORIG_6880*A	VPRB
47	ORIG_3225*A	PGG
48	ORIG_4420*A	TARK
49	ORIG_6532*A	BCHM
50	ORIG_1255*A	PSYC
51	ORIG_3708*A	HILL
52	ORIG_8212*A	PVA
53	ORIG_3931*A	HLTP	Heritage Plant
54	ORIG_6686*A	WSLR
55	ORIG_0168*A	FWLR
56	2010_01882*A	WILY
57	2010_05594*A	PGMD
58	2010_02341*A	BELL
59	ORIG_3223*A	PGG
60	ORIG_7361*A	VPRB
61	2009_13197*A	HORTPARK	Heritage Plant
62	ORIG_3807*A	HLTP
63	ORIG_4564*A	HARR
64	ORIG_2965*A	PMU
65	2009_11374*A	PAO
66	ORIG_0299*A	SMLY
67	ORIG_6886*A	VPRB
68	ORIG_2017*A	PHYS
69	ORIG_7353*A	VPRB
70	ORIG_1125*A	MEMMALL	Heritage Plant Dedicated/Memorial Plant
71	ORIG_2732*A	HEAV
72	2010_05592*A	PGMD
73	2009_11414*A	DAUC
74	ORIG_0515*A	WOOD
75	ORIG_2978*A	PMU
76	ORIG_7310*A	STEW
77	2010_05484*A	PGMD
78	ORIG_3770*A	HLTP
79	ORIG_4485*A	MCUT
80	ORIG_8542*A	WDC
81	ORIG_3937*A	HLTP
82	ORIG_1100*A	MEMMALL	Heritage Plant Dedicated/Memorial Plant
83	2009_13105*A	HORTPARK
84	2009_13436*A	HORTPARK	Heritage Plant
85	ORIG_7360*A	VPRB
86	2010_05485*A	PGMD
87	ORIG_8531*A	MCUT
88	2010_05483*A	PGMD
89	ORIG_1185*A	REC
90	ORIG_0002*A	HERL
91	ORIG_1777*A	RHPH
92	ORIG_3224*A	PGG
93	ORIG_2242*A	FRNY
94	ORIG_4479*A	MCUT
95	ORIG_6840*A	HGRH
96	ORIG_0694*A	SHLY
97	ORIG_0411*A	SMLY
98	2010_05597*A	PGMD
99	ORIG_2203*A	EE
100	2009_13111*A	HORTPARK
101	ORIG_0609*A	WARN
102	ORIG_4540*A	HARR
103	ORIG_8213*A	PVA
104	2009_13106*A	HORTPARK
105	ORIG_6480*A	LILY
106	ORIG_6479*A	LILY
107	ORIG_3222*A	PGG
108	2009_13742*A	HORTPARK	Heritage Plant
109	2009_13437*A	HORTPARK	Heritage Plant
110	ORIG_1247*A	HAAS
111	ORIG_3227*A	PGG
112	2009_11375*A	PAO
113	ORIG_4503*A	HARR
114	ORIG_3874*A	HLTP
115	2010_05593*A	PGMD
116	ORIG_4349*A	WILY
117	ORIG_6972*A	LYNN
118	ORIG_3887*A	HLTP
119	2010_05599*A	PGMD
120	ORIG_8548*A	HLTP
121	ORIG_6685*A	WSLR
122	ORIG_2376*A	ME	Heritage Plant Dedicated/Memorial Plant
123	ORIG_3229*A	PGG
124	ORIG_6539*A	BCHM
125	ORIG_6363*A	GRS
126	2012_01134*A	SHLY
127	ORIG_7368*A	VPRB
128	ORIG_1103*A	MEMMALL
129	ORIG_7362*A	VPRB
130	2021_00080*A	PGMD
131	2023_00079*A	PICK
132	2023_00087*A	DAUC
133	2023_00277*A	LOLC
134	2023_00317*A	PICK
135	2023_00355*A	PICK
136	2023_00355*B	PICK
137	2023_00355*C	PICK
138	2023_00458*A	DANL
139	2023_00528*A	CONT
140	2024_00132*A	HCR
141	2024_00132*B	HCR
142	2024_00209*A	CONT
143	2024_00209*B	CONT
144	2024_00209*C	CONT
145	2024_00209*D	CONT
146	2025_00023*A	CRTN