Scientific Name Liquidambar styraciflua Common Name Sweetgum

Maritime Forest Consumer Hort Index - Fact Sheets

Characteristics Family Hamamelidaceae--The Witch-hazel Family Origin Native NC Plant Description Deciduous tree Coastal Ecology Liquidambar styraciflua is the Sweetgum, a Facultative species. Sweetgum is a medium to large deciduous tree found in wetlands and upland areas. Sweetgum has light to medium brown bark which is somewhat furrowed. The branch tips are coarse, and often bear corky wings. The leaves of Sweetgum are simple, alternate and palmately lobed with five points, resembling a star in shape. The fruit of sweetgum is a dangling, globose, brown, woody spiny-tipped "gum ball."

Trees of the Maritime Forest, Alice B. Russell Department of Horticultural Science, North Carolina State University.
All Pictures ©1997Alice B. Russell.