The sweetgum tree is a real eye-catcher in the front yard with its attractive leaf colour. It is extremely easy to care for and can be planted under simple conditions.
The sweetgum tree belongs to the genus Altingiaceae. This is a small family of plants. Sweetgum trees (Liquidambar) got their Latin name from a derivation of the Latin word “liquides” for “liquid”. Furthermore, the Arabic term “anbar” for “amber” flows into the word correspondence. Thus, the plant name can be translated as "liquid amber". The reason for this is the tree resin, which spreads a pleasant smell.
The deciduous trees can grow up to 40 meters high. The sweetgum tree is a fairly easy-care plant that develops well in our latitudes if you follow a few care instructions. The plant is appreciated because of its elegant growth habit, the pretty leaf markings and the attractive and long-lasting autumn colouring.
Spread of Sweetgum Trees
The distribution area of the sweetgum tree is divided into two. There are natural occurrences in East Asia as well as in North and Central America. The main area of distribution is in China, Turkey and Rhodes. The plant genus Liquidambar is very old and was already proven in the Tertiary. In Germany, a five-million-year-old specimen of a sweetgum tree was found in the Garzweiler opencast mine.
Use of sweetgum trees
The tree sap, the leaves, the fruit and the trunk are of importance for medicine. A well-known remedy for colds and coughs is the alcohol extract known as styrax from the bark and sapwood of the tree. The wood is used to make veneers. The resin is used in the perfume industry and is also used in the manufacture of chewing gum.
When does the sweetgum blossom?
Until the blossoms of the sweetgum tree appear, the hobby gardener needs a lot of patience. It can take up to 20 years before the rather inconspicuous flowers appear in spring. The female flowers resemble the hanging and spherical inflorescences of the chestnut. Male flowers appear at about six inches longGrapes.
» Tip: A consolation for the hobby gardener - a few, inconspicuous flowers give hope for an attractive foliage color in autumn.
Sweet gum varieties
| Tree species | Features |
|---|---|
| Classic sweetgum | The classic sweetgum tree (Liquidambar styraciflua) reaches heights of growth of 8 - 12 metres. Crushed leaves smell wonderfully of amber and turn a beautiful red in autumn. |
| Sweet gum “Variegata” | This tree species can reach up to 2 meters in height and has pretty, white variegated foliage. This sweetgum tree is particularly suitable for smaller gardens. |
| Sweet gum “Oktoberglut” | These sweetgum trees grow to a height of up to 3 meters and are particularly attractive at the edges of ponds. An eye-catcher is the intense autumn color in red, yellow or orange. |
| Sweet gum ”Silver King” | Silver King grows about 5 meters tall and has a striking red-brown bark. In autumn the leaves turn orange-red to purple. |
| Sweet Gumball | This spherical sweetgum is particularly attractive for small gardens. A dense crown is formed on the clear stem. An eye-catcher is the intense red-yellow color of the leaves in autumn. |
| Worplesdon Sweet Gum Tree | The sweetgum trees, which grow up to 10 meters high, impress with their unusual, fingered growth habit and offer a deep red autumn colour. |
Plant sweetgum trees - all facts at a glance
If you follow the care instructions below, the sweetgum tree can be easily cultivated in your home garden and has proven to be a robust and long-lasting plant.
Location:
The sweetgum tree is a child of the sun and cannot get enough of it at its location. So feel free to place the plant in full sun. Note that the small plant wants to grow into a stately tree and choose an open and spacious lawn as the ideal location. A wind-protected location is an advantage, the longer you can enjoy the attractive autumn colors. The crowns do not grow too sprawling, so the sweetgum tree can also find its place in smaller gardens.
Floor:
The sweetgum tree needs moist and well-drained soil. Sand or clay soils are ideal. The roots are sensitive to compacted soil. Therefore, an open space should always be chosen as the location for the sweetgum tree. Too high a lime content will nottolerate. The plant indicates this by yellowing the leaves.
» Warning: The sweetgum does not tolerate waterlogging, rhizome barriers and soil compaction.
Planting Instructions:
- best planting time: early autumn to spring
- Select Location
- Prepare the ground
- Remove soil compaction
- Water the root ball
- Dig a planting hole twice the size of the root ball
- Mix soil with compost or hummus
- Insert the plant a few centimeters below the grafting point
- Fill up soil
- Shake the plant to evenly distribute the soil
- Press the base lightly
- Support Plant
- Create pouring rim
- Water the plant sufficiently
- Mulch soil
How to properly care for the sweetgum tree
Casting:
Sweetgum trees need sufficient moisture. Young plants in particular must not dry out in summer and should be watered several times a week. Ensure even moisture and avoid waterlogging. The soil should always appear slightly damp and may also be poured overflowing.
» Tip: The soil should also be checked in winter. Small waterings are welcome on frost-free days.
Fertilize:
It is recommended to cover the soil with bark mulch after planting. Not only does this act as a natural fertilizer, it also allows moisture to escape from the soil more slowly. In general, fertilizer should be used sparingly. Between May and August, the plant is allowed to receive mineral fertilizers. Complete fertilizer can be administered once at the beginning of the gardening year. From September the sweetgum tree is no longer fertilized. If the plant also received more nitrogen, shoots would form that would not be strong enough for the impending frost, which would damage the wood.
» Caution: Potted plants have an increased nutrient requirement and can be supplied with liquid fertilizer every 14 days during the growth phase.
Pruning:
If the sweetgum has been given a free-standing location, no pruning needs to be done. The crown of the tree can then develop its characteristic cone shape over the years. In order to promote the growth of the tree, dried branches should be removed regularly in autumn. Crossing branches and shoots pointing inwards are also removed. All branches that protrude from the typical tree ball are cut off. Become dead branches in springremoved, you should not cut back into the old wood. Otherwise the plant would not sprout again.
Propagation:
Amber trees can be propagated by seeds and cuttings. In principle, the seeds could easily be obtained from the seeds in the capsules that formed in the autumn. However, a large part of the seeds of the sweetgum tree is sterile and cannot be used for propagation. Only fertile seeds can germinate. So it makes sense to buy the seeds.
Propagation by seeds
❶ Place seeds in plant pots and cover thinly with soil
❷ Keep evenly moist
❸ Leave to rest for several weeks at around 20 degrees
❹ Seeds on foil that covered with damp sand spread out
❺ twist the foil together and tie both ends
❻ keep the foil in the fridge for about eight weeks
❼ sow the seeds again
❽ at five degrees beginning, getting used to warmer environment step by step
Propagation of the sweetgum tree requires patience. When seedlings have appeared, they are placed in individual pots and placed in a bright and warm place until sufficient roots have formed and the plant can move outdoors.
Propagation by cuttings
❶ cut the approx. 15 centimeter long cutting in autumn
❷ cut the lower part at an angle
❸ Remove the shoot tip at the upper part with a straight cut.
❹ Put the cuttings in plant pots with put nutrient-poor soil
❺ overwinter at about eight degrees
❻ water sparingly
❼ A plastic cover over the pots accelerates growth.
Propagation by cuttings is easier for the hobby gardener than cumbersome cultivation from seeds.
Hiberation:
Adult trees do not require special winter protection. With young plants, however, this should not be neglected. While mature trees are hardy to around -25 degrees, young plants can already suffer from light frosts in the first few years. Therefore, put a bag of garden fleece over the crown and protect the root area from frost with leaves or brushwood. Winter sun can damage the bark. A white coat of paint on the tree bark helps against this.
Potted plants should overwinter frost-free and not dry out. In the open air, the sweetgum tree in the tub also needs protection around the crown and should also be placed on a styrofoam or wooden block to protect the roots from frost.
Detecting and combating diseases and pests
TheSweet gum is an extremely robust plant that is hardly affected by diseases or pests. However, young plants resent the wrong choice of location and care mistakes and rule with leaf fall or root rot.
The following care mistakes should be avoided:
- Too dry soil
- too dark location
- Waterlogging
- compacted soils
- Nutritional Deficiency
If the young plants grow poorly, react with discoloration and loss of leaves, one of the reasons mentioned above is usually responsible.
Aphids - Danger for young plants
Young plants are not yet robust enough and can therefore occasionally be attacked by aphids. The infestation is clearly visible on the leaves. Different types of pests can occur. Honeydew excretions are also visible on the leaf veins of some species.
What to do?
Aphids can be eliminated very easily with natural means. Nettle stock has proven particularly effective. For this purpose, the nettles are collected and placed in a bucket. About half the bucket should be filled with nettles. Then it is filled up with water. The brew should stand for about two to three days and is then strained. You can now spray all affected plants with the broth.
» Tip: Nettle stock can also be used for ornamental plants in the room if they are infested with pests.
A lye made from the following substances has also proven itself:
- Onions
- Garlic
- Black Tea
- Vinegar
- Garlic
- Savory
Sweet gum trees as bonsai
Sweetgum trees as bonsai are quite rarely available. Anyone who owns a plant should place it in the sun and ensure high humidity. The soil should be moist and nutritious. The humidity should be checked regularly. It often has to be watered several times a day. The trees can be wired from June. Spreading and bracing can be done alternatively and gives the same results. Every two years you should repot the plants and provide a root cut. Hibernation takes place in a sheltered and bright location at about eight to ten degrees.