Liquidambar Styraciflua American Sweetgum

Liquidambar Styraciflua is commonly known as the Redgum Tree or the American Sweetgum Tree and is a medium to large-sized deciduous tree. The leaves have a maple-like appearance with five pointed lobes. This is one of the best trees for autumn colour. The Redgum tree's autumn colours are reds, yellows, purples and smoky browns. The American Sweetgum is a very popular ornamental tree with intense autumn colour.
Read our blog on Pleached Tree Care & How To Plant Pleached Trees

We have Pleached Liquidambar Trees on bamboo canes. 

Native to the eastern United States, Liquidambar Styraciflua was first brought to UK gardens in the 1600’s, and has been a favourite ever since. Its leaves emerge a glossy dark green in spring, before turning to their brilliant autumn colour, often displaying all the colours at once, creating a truly spectacular show, and lasting into December before the leaves finally drop.

Hardy throughout the UK and northern Europe, the American Sweetgum Tree will grow to a height of 6 metres within 10 years, before reaching its mature height of more than 12 metres and spread of more than 8 metres in more than 50 years. Liquidambar Styraciflua needs little or no pruning to maintain its broad, conical crown. 

Plant Liquidambar Styraciflua in full sun or partial shade in any well-drained sand, loam or clay soil with an acid or neutral pH. It is generally pest and disease-free, making it an excellent low-maintenance landscaping choice.  

This large tree needs room to grow, so American Sweetgum Tree will do best in a larger space. It makes a striking focal point in a lawn, particularly if you plant a row of pleached Liquidambar Trees, where its autumn show will be on full display. On a country property, one or more can create a shady spot in the summer, and then be a stand-out in autumn. They also make great additions to a woodland planting scheme.

When you are looking for brilliant autumn colour and a reliable, low-maintenance landscape tree, Liquidambar Styraciflua is the way to go, and our large specimens will get you off to a brilliant start!

Paramount is a specialist tree nursery with a huge range of deciduous, conifers and evergreen trees - suitable for all aspects from sun to shade.