The amber colored gum, or balsam, gives the sweet gum tree its flavor and its common name. Sweetgum was mentioned in writing by historians traveling with cortes who witnessed the aztecs using sweetgum to flavor the tobacco they smoked. This tree, recognizable by the combination of its fivepointed, starshaped leaves and its hard, spiked fruits, is often. Sweetgum trees are important resources for medicinal and other beneficial compounds. Usda is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Liquidambar styraciflua sweet gum pleached liquidambar, ideal for ornamental screening autumn seed capsules of liquidambar styraciflua field grown standards 182025cm girth feathered liquidambar 56m height 6070cm girth standard a grove of liquidambar trees was donated to the flight 93 memorial, pennsylvania by the. Mail order conifer nursery of dwarf and miniature conifers, japanese maples, bonsai, and fairy garden plants. The forest tent caterpillar avoids red maple, pear, buffaloberry and silverberry. But you dont have to commit to the lengthy process of boiling sap down into balsam in order to enjoy the sweet gum smell. Sweet tea, corn bread, and soup beanseveryday fare for eight. Originally, youd only be able to find this species in southeastern coastal states, but it has made a steady journey westward throughout the mid to late 20 th century. This genus includes the following allergenic species.
The sweet gum resembles a maple tree, and in the summer, the starshaped leaves and sturdy trunk are impressive, if easily overlooked. Books similar to the sweet gum tree the sweet gum tree. Alix frenchs strong distinctive narrative voice carried me along into a world of gentile southern living as different from the urban sprawl of london as mars is to the moon. Pdf suite read, create, edit, convert and secure any pdf. The sweet gum tree, is as its title suggests, such a sweet love story im glad i took the time to read it. It is a member of the witch hazel family and should have the astringency and bitterness of witch hazel lotion. A sweet gum is a deciduous tree in the witch hazel family that ranges in height from 60 to 100 feet and has a narrow oval canopy. Sweetgum, liquidambar styraciflua sycamore maple, acer psuedoplatanus trident maple, acer buergerianum tulip tree, liriodendron tulipifera tupelo, nyssa sylvatica turkish hazel, corylus colurna yellowwood, cladrastis kentukea visit. The sweet gum has a pyramidal habit when young, eventually becoming rounded and tall up to more than 100 feet. For further details and pricing, please download our. The formosa sweet gum tree is a deciduous tree native to asia and. They were formerly often treated in hamamelidaceae. These puppies are 2530 and will be bucked and split into the usual lengths, any input would.
The leaves of the sweetgum are, in appearance, similar to a maple but do not grow in pairs on the stem. The sweet gum tree has long been used for medicinal purposes and as a source of hardwood for furniture. They are decorative deciduous trees that are used in the wood industry and. The sweet gum tree kindle edition by allred, katherine. Sweetgums are straight, tall trees with a single trunk that reaches a height of 75 feet or more. It is frequently used for furniture when people can get it. Sweet gum tree i have a 20yearold sweet gum, approximately 50. Visitors welcome by appointment, call ahead 360 4250541. Trees grow well in deep soil, poorly in shallow, droughty soil. The downside to growing a sweetgum tree is the seed pods. Liquidambar, commonly called sweetgum gum, redgum, satinwalnut, or american storax, is the only genus in the flowering plant family altingiaceae and has 15 species. American sweetgum liquidambar styraciflua, also known as american storax, hazel pine. Alix coming from a loving family, nick from an abusive, alcoholic single father. Sweetgum is primarily used for lumber, veneer, plywood, slack cooperage, railroad ties, fuel.
The handsome foliage is glossy green spring through summer. Small mammals such as chipmunks, red squirrels and gray squirrels also enjoy the fruits and seeds. Both the vulgar and latin names hint at the look and consistency of the resin, which is used for production of glues, perfumes, and incense. Sweet gum definition of sweet gum by merriamwebster. Read about civil rights at the natural resources convervation service. Sweetgum balls are anything but sweet but the prickly fruit of sweetgum trees.
What is the value of a 24 sweet gum tree that is about 30 feet high. In the south some pioneers chewed sweet gum leaves to cure diarrhea. Find highquality sweet gum tree stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. Information sheet sweetgum liquidambar styraciflua sweetgum liquidambar styraciflua is a fast growing, large shade tree native to bottomland areas of the city of alexandria. Five years ago our street was flooded for about a week from back to back hurricanes, and the tree really hasnt been the same since. The gorgeous autumn colours make it a primary choice for decoration. And when you want to do more, subscribe to acrobat pro. The vicious seed pods have impaled many a forager and has done much to ruin the sweet gums reputation. The american sweetgum is native to north america, and its genus has only 5. Answered by a verified landscaper we use cookies to give you the best possible experience on our website. Sweet gum, american sweet gum, red gum, bilsted, starleaved gum, alligatortree. Sweet gum liquidambar is a genus of the hamamelidaceae family.
This deciduous tree is recognized by the quarter sized. Plants profile for liquidambar styraciflua sweetgum. Most people want to know how to get rid of the tree, keep it from fruiting, or if you can compost sweetgum balls. Hey guys, my father in law has several sweet gum liquid amber. Tent caterpillars attack a variety of plants, both ornamental and fruit. American sweetgum seeds are eaten by eastern goldfinches, purple finches, sparrows, mourning doves, northern bobwhites and wild turkeys. Liquidambar styraciflua sweetgum page 4 pests bagworm makes sacks by webbing together pieces of leaves. This list includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. Suggested plants used by aboriginal people for use in a. If youre thinking of growing trees in your yard, or youre simply interested about what makes certain trees. In the appalachians, people dipped the twigs in whiskey and nibbled them to clean their teeth. Surely not to argue with experts, know it alls, or folks who believe everything they read on the internet. Suggested plants used by aboriginal people for use in a bush tucker theme garden botanical name common name usable portion climbergroundcover billardiera scandens apple berry fruit cissus antarctica native grape fruit eustrephus latifolius wombat berry young shoots and fruit glycine clandestina twining glycine roots.
The most dangerous tree in the suburbs american orchard. Sweetgum 4 although it grows at a moderate pace, sweetgum is rarely attacked by pests, and tolerates wet soils, but chlorosis is often seen in alkaline soils. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. Sweet gum liquidambar styraciflua allergens and plants search enter a full or partial species name to find more information on one of over 1200 potentially allergenic plants. The name liquidambar styraciflua means liquid amber and styraciflua is in reference to styrax balsam, which is a kind of resin produced by the sweetgum that can be chewed for medicinal and recreational purposes. The sweet gum tree creates fireworks in the garden, with starshape leaves that change to fiery hues in fall. Sweet gum definition is a north american tree liquidambar styraciflua of the witchhazel family with palmately lobed glossy green leaves, corky twigs, a round spiny brown fruit cluster, and hard wood. The sweet gum tree a forty foot tall sweet gum tree rises from the northeast corner of my back yard. Only with adobe acrobat reader you can view, sign, collect and track feedback, and share pdfs for free. I dont mind them so much myself, but wouldnt want one anywhere near my house, pipes or anywhere near a drive or concretepavers.
Sweet tea, corn bread, and soup beanseveryday fare for eightyearold alix french, the precocious darling of a respected southern family. Sweet gum is one of the main valuable forest trees in the southeastern united. Sweetgum is a good choice as a windbreak tree because of its fast growth and tolerance of a wide variety of sites. Liquidambars are considered to be a bit of a pest here in australia. Although the spring flowers are fairly large, they are held high in the tree and are difficult to see. Im to the point of considering have the sweet gum taken down. Their fall color lasts much longer than most other trees.
Sweetgum, with separate male and female flowers on the same tree a monoecious species, does not flower or fruit appreciably for the first 15 or so years of its life. Find sweet gum trees stock images in hd and millions of other royaltyfree stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the shutterstock collection. A photo would help, and you might get some advice out of it. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. The eastern tent caterpillar prefers cherry, plum, peach, apple, hawthorne and related plants. If the sweet gum comes down, i could fill out that area with more garden periennials, which id love. Its seeds are eaten by birds, squirrels, and chipmunks. These handsome trees have a pyramidal canopy when young that becomes rounded with age. Hernandez in 1651, the sweetgum trees scientific name is liquid amber in latin. Fall webworm webs over portions of large branches or may completely cover small branches. Please help to improve this list by introducing more precise citations.
Historylore the sweetgum tree is native to the southeastern united states and a member of a genus made up of. Harvesting chewing gum from the sweetgum bushcraft usa. A fragrant sap bleeds from the tree when the bark is wounded. As a pioneer species, sweetgum is also common on abandoned fields and logged or clearcut areas, where it frequently forms dense thickets. Small numbers of insects may be picked off by hand. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else.
The sap of the sweet gum can be processed into a necessary ingredient for incensemaking. Stems often have corky and attractive wings during the second year. Sweet gum, american sweet gum, red gum, bilsted, starleaved gum. What is a sweetgum tree information on caring for sweetgums. What is the value of a 24 sweet gum tree that is about 30. Native americans reportedly made a preparation of the balsam to treat fevers and wounds. Sweet gums liquidambar styraciflua are among the commonest trees in the south, and are found in huge numbers throughout the piedmont and coastal plain of north carolina. Thousands of new, highquality pictures added every day. It is only in winter, after the tree s greenery has been shed, that the sweet gum s finer points can truly be appreciated. Sweet gum tree leaves have five to seven pointed lobes, and their shape will remind you of a star. When i look at the flesh where it has broken off, it is nice and white and shows no sign of disease or being struck by. Affordable and search from millions of royalty free images, photos and vectors. Its scientific name is liquidambar styraciflua, and is also called sweet gum.
Buy sweetgum tree sweetgum trees sweetgum tree sale. What links here related changes upload file special pages permanent. It has a moderate to rapid growth rate, putting on height at a rate of 1 to 4 feet a year for the first five to 10 years and 12 to 15 inches per year thereafter. An occasional lowhanging branch reveals an active cluster of. The sweetgum tree is well known for its ball shaped, thorned seedpod.
Pdf sweetgum trees are large, deciduous trees found in asia and north. Several years ago i planted several sweet gum trees on my property. They make excellent lawn or shade trees in large landscapes. The sweetgum is a typical southern bottomland tree that occurs most abundantly on moist, rich, alluvial soils in association with many other species in valleys, swamps, and near ponds and streams. T he sweet gum tree is a truly beautiful tree for your landscape, although not everyone is a fan. Alix and nick became friends when they were small children. Both the scientific and common names refer to the sweet resinous sap liquid. Afterwards, a steadily increasing avalanche of spiny gumball fruits accumulate, first hanging as green orbs from the tree in summer. It is a native american tree from the eastern part of north america. Sweet gum trees the good, the bad and the undeniable the sweet gum tree is a hardy and beautiful specimen ranging from the midwestern to southeastern united states. Sweet gum tree eat the weeds and other things, too. He wants to know how good they are for burning and how long you would have to season them for.
On this early spring day, the tree is still a skeleton, although leaf buds are just beginning to emerge and dozens of sweet gum balls dangle from its naked branches like. Sweet gum is a large, aromatic tree with a straight trunk and gray, deeply furrowed, scaly bark. The sweet gum tree by katherine allred is one of the best books i have ever read, simply stated. Ill assume by sweet gum you are talking about liquidambar. To file a complaint of discrimination write usda, director, office of civil rights, room 326w, whitten building, 14th and independence avenue, sw, washington, dc 202509410 or call 2027205964 voice or tdd. I am a furniture maker by profession, and i must tell you to stop using the red gum. The sweet gum can grow very tall, but the branches do not expand, a quality that makes it ideal for boulevards. The ash would probably grow much better, too, tho we have an ash bore warning for our area ohio, but this tree doesnt have it yet. January 2014 learn how and when to remove this template messagethe following is a list of diseases of sweetgum liquidambar spp.
716 977 1238 392 1351 1317 993 1605 778 311 106 1343 1540 1477 755 137 270 92 436 1166 312 657 131 1562 1358 1514 691 1580 1304 1303 301 1265 1044 69 397 444 30 1467 5 281 252 997 1150