Most gardeners when they hear the word Sweetgum, all they can think of is the fruit. The annoying little ball-like structures which are impossible to walk on and almost as impossible to rake up. I ask you to keep an open mind and let me tell you about the Sweetgum, I know.

Liquidamber styraciuflua 'Rotundiloba', the fruitless sweetgum, makes an excellent addition to the landscape, especially for fall color which is why it has been selected as November's Plant of the Month. To see this tree come to the Wilson Arboretum and Botanical Garden at 1806 S. Goldsboro Street, it is located in the Tree Planting area.

The American Sweetgum is a native plant which attracts many gardeners but the fruiting structure leaves it out of most gardens. Through breeding, a fruitless sweetgum is readily available to plant and enjoy in the home lawn.

Sweetgums are also important to our wood industry and used for plywood, furniture, cabinet making, etc. The name sweetgum is derived from the sap which has a sweet taste and gummy consistency.

Some general information about sweetgums regardless of cultivar includes that this is a large tree, growing to 60 feet in height and about 2/3 in spread. It is a medium to fast grower, averaging 2-3 feet in moist soil, and 1-2 feet in dry soil. North Carolina actually holds the national sweetgum champion in Craven County. It is hardy from Zone 5-9. It is a deciduous tree that has spectacular fall color. The bark is a gray brown and deeply furrowed. Stems can have corky like projections which is normal.

Leaves are glossy green above and change to a rich yellow, purple and red hues during the fall. The leaves tend to hold late into the fall.

Sweetgums are easily transplanted balled and burlapped in the spring into deep moist soil. Slightly acid soil and full sun will help the root system expand. The roots must have time to be established before the shoots will grow.

Insects and diseases have been reported on sweetgums but few do more than minor cosmetic damage such as leaf spots, caterpillars, scales, and iron chlorosis.

Sweet gums can be planted in the lawn, park or used as a street tree, especially 'Rotundiloba' which has no fruit. 'Rotundiloba' does well in Zones 6-9. There is a large tree on the NC State campus which has a more narrow pyramidal habit than the native species. The leaves are a lustrous dark green and turn a rich red purple in the fall. Although, yellow and burgundy colors are report during some fall seasons. This selection was found wild in North Carolina in 1930. There has been some limb reversions back to the native sweetgum which should be pruned out. The first year after I transplanted mine in the Arboretum it did have some fruit. When the tree is under stress fruit development has been observed. The way to tell the native from 'Rotundiloba' is easy. The native Sweetgum has pointed leaves whereas the 'Rotundiloba' has rounded lobes.

Many other cultivars of sweetgum are available which has better fall color, variegated leaves, or better habit than the native sweetgum but all have fruit except 'Rotundiloba'.

The Wilson Arboretum and Botanical Garden is open daily from sun up until dusk. The Wilson County Master Gardeners are waiting from your gardening questions and have phone hours 1-3 PM Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays until Nov. 17.

Date Created: 11/20/03.