Liquidamber styraciflua

Deciduous tree with an oval-rounded crown as it matures reaching a height of around 20m with a width of 8m.

Glossy maple-like star shaped lush green leaves unfurl in spring and change to yellow orange then through to dark red and purple during autumn. Clusters of birstly fruits follow the insignificant flowers these often stay on the tree through winter.
Rather glossy, maple-like, 5 to 7-lobed leaves which turn to shades of orange, crimson and purple in autumn. (RHS) Glossy, long-stalked, deep green leaves (4-7 across) have toothed margins. Each leaf has 5-7 pointed, star-shaped lobes.Leaves are fragrant when bruised. Fall color at its best is a brilliant mixture of yellows, oranges, purples and reds.Non-showy, monoecious, yellow-green flowers appear in spherical clustersin April-May.Female flowers give way to the infamous gum balls which are hard, spherical, bristly fruiting clusters to 1.5 diameter. Gum balls mature to dark brown and usually remain on the tree through the winter(missouribotanical) Star shaped, palmate leaves(floridata)

Best grown in lime-free (acidic) soil in full sun with well-draining soil.

Always choose healthy well-grown plants. Planting success is often improved on clay soils by adding extra topsoil and forming raised beds. Incorporate coarse sand, bark, compost or other organic material to improve soil structure. Planting after autumn rains when the soil is moist and warm allows trees to become established before winter. This enables them to withstand dry periods during the following summer. Before planting ensure that the root-ball is saturated and remove planter bag pot or wrapping with the minimum of root disturbance. Trim any broken roots or branches and plant at the same level as in the container.

Tall plants and those in windy positions require staking to stabilize the root ball until established. Position the stakes in the hole before planting and place the plant between them. Long term slow release fertilisers may be added at this stage. As soil is placed in the prepared hole tread firmly to bring soil in close contact with the root-ball. Use wide ties that hold securely without chafing. Tie firmly but allow room for the trunk to increase in girth without constriction. This allows the plant to move a little in the wind encouraging the development of a strong root system without the risk of chafing or root damage. Unless the soil is very wet water thoroughly making sure that moisture penetrates to the depth of the root-ball.

Mulch around the planting site to conserve soil moisture, however, keep the mulch from the plant stem. Mulching helps to conserve moisture and help suppress weeds. The root-ball sometimes dries out despite the surrounding soil being moist; direct water down the plant stem to saturate the root-ball. The first summer and autumn after planting is critical for young plants; water thoroughly during dry periods. Except on very fertile soils, an annual light dressing (50g/m2) of general purpose fertiliser in spring is beneficial. Sprinkle evenly and work into the top 2 to 3cm of the soil taking care not to damage surface roots.

This is a low maintenance tree however in pedestrian areas the fallen fruit may need to be picked up from a health and safety perspective.

Generally pest and disease-free.

Visitors Centre

Sweet gum is native to the area between Connecticut, Florida and Missouri, and further south to Texas, Mexico and Central America. In Missouri, it typically occurs in moist low woods and along streams only in the far southeastern corner of the state. The common name of sweet gum refers to an aromatic balsam or gum that exudes from wounds to the tree. This gum has been used in the past for a variety of purposes including chewing gum, incense, perfumes, folk medicines and flavourings. The wood has been widely used for a number of applications including flooring, furniture and home interiors.