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The Sweet Gum Tree, known scientifically as Liquidambar styraciflua, is also called the American Storax, satin-walnut, and star-leaved gum tree.
This tree is native to a large part of North America. However, sweet Gum Trees thrive best in warm, tropical regions such as the Southern U.S. and Mexico. Its branches have a remarkable growth that is “wing-like” in appearance. This tree also produces a round fruit that remains on the tree until the winter months. Sweet Gum Tree leaves will turn a reddish purple-yellow in the fall, adding a vibrant splash of color to your garden landscape. It is also a terrific shade tree that thrives in loamy or clay, acidic, moist, well-drained soil and requires little attention. Sweet gum tree leaves bear five to seven pointed lobes that appear star-shaped. Mature leaves are 4 to 7 inches wide, and their fall color lasts longer than other trees that change color in the fall. The Sweet Gum Tree also bears seed pods that appear as spiny gumballs.
Sweet Gum Trees propagate by seed that must be chilled for one month to ensure dormancy requirements. Once cooled, the seeds germinate when surface-sown, watered and set in bright diffused light.
1. Stratify the seeds refrigeration, placing the seeds inside a quart-sized sealable plastic bag. Fill the bag with 1 cup of moistened perlite and press the seeds into it. Then store the pack in your refrigerator for one to three months to simulate a period of dormancy that will ensure proper germination. It is essential to check your Sweet Gum Seedlings to moisten the perlite when it feels dry.
2. Once germinated, prepare a container for each Sweetgum Seed. B filling 10-inch nursery containers with a mix of 3 parts milled peat, 1 part coarse sand, and 1 part loam. Saturate the peat mix with water and drain off for 20 minutes before sowing.
3. Sow your Sweetgum seeds in the containers, pressing them into the meat mixture. Next, spread a thin, 1/16-inch-thick layer of pine straw mulch or coarse sand over the roots and moisten to settle it.
4. Once germinated, thin out all but the biggest Sweetgum Tree Seedlings from each container. Continue to grow your Sweetgum Tree Seedlings in their containers in partial shade during their first summer and water weekly to a 2-inch depth. Then, move your Sweetgum Tree Seedlings into the full sun during the winter and water them only if the weather is dry for more than two weeks.
5. The following spring, transplant the Sweetgum Tree Seedlings into your garden once soil temperatures warm to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Space trees at 25 feet apart and mulch heavily with mildly acidic mulch. Remember to keep them well-watered during their first summer.
Sweetgum Trees attracts birds, including finches, turkeys, morning doves, and small ground animals such as chipmunks and squirrel. The wildlife will feast on the fruits and seeds produced by your Sweetgum Tree. This tree will grow between 1-2 feet per year in the right conditions and can grow up to feet tall.
Sweetgum Trees will add a range of vibrant and beautiful colors to your garden landscape, making it an excellent choice.
We dig fresh our plants and ship immediately. We ship US Mail, Priority shipping. You will receive a tracking number once your plants ship. All plants will be fine in their packages for up to 3 days after receiving.
We sell only bare root plants. We dip the roots in tera-sorb silicone gel to retain ample moisture for transit and surround with plastic. This is superior protection for plants in transit for up to 12 days.
Open your plants and inspect the same day received. We offer 3 days to report any problems with your order. Bare root plants need to be planted within 2-3 days of receiving unless weather-related problems prohibit planting. Store in a cool place and keep roots moist and covered with plastic until they can be planted. Water for the first week daily after planting.