Liquidambar styraciflua - American Sweetgum

The Liquidambar styraciflua, also known as the American sweetgum, is a deciduous tree of medium stature, highly ornamental with its slender conical habit, particularly appreciated in autumn, when its abundant palmate foliage takes on sumptuous orange, copper, golden, scarlet, and violet hues. This light-demanding tree prefers non-chalky, well-drained soil and can be admired in all its splendour when planted in a spacious location in the garden, either as a standalone specimen or planted in rows.

The American sweetgum belongs to the family of hamamelidaceae, which includes many plants that display magnificent autumn colours, such as witch hazels, parrotias, and loropetalums. This majestic tree is native to North America, specifically the banks of large rivers like the Mississippi and Ohio. Its name, Liquidambar, comes from the Latin word "liquidus", meaning liquid, and the Arabic word "ambar", meaning amber, because of the amber-coloured aromatic resin that flows from its bark. It was discovered in 1528 and introduced to Europe in 1681.

In its native regions, this tree can reach heights of up to 35 m (114 ft), but in our climates it typically grows to an average height of 20-22 m (65-72 ft), with a relatively fast growth rate. It develops a very upright trunk topped by a dense, distinctly conical and closed crown, which is slightly irregular, with a base diameter of about 7 m (23 ft). The deciduous foliage is the tree's main asset. It consists of palmate leaves, 10 to 18 cm long, divided into 5 to 9 finely toothed triangular lobes, arranged alternately on the branches. Initially dark green, the leaves turn breathtaking colours in autumn. The inconspicuous flowering occurs in April on specimens aged 25 years and older, in the form of erect male catkins separate from the female flowers, in the shape of pendulous, spherical, clusters measuring 2 to 3 cm in diameter. After pollination, pom-pom-like fruits similar to those of the plane tree are formed. Each fruit consists of capsules containing small winged seeds, resembling maple samaras. The bark of the sweetgum is dark brown and fissured with corky crevices. This beautiful tree has a lifespan of approximately 150 years.

The sweetgum is perfectly hardy. It requires a deep, well-drained soil  with little limestone and a sunny exposure. Once established, it requires no maintenance. It can be planted as a standalone specimen on a large lawn or in rows lining the street or property boundary. The Liquidambar styraciflua is commonly found in parks, where it stands out with its superb autumn colours. It can be paired with other colourful trees such as the Ginkgo Biloba, the Toona sinensis Flamingo, the Nyssa sylvatica, and the bald cypress, which thrive in similar cool environments and deep soils.

Properties:

The aromatic resin exuded by the bark is also known as styrax or liquidambar balm. It was once used in aromatherapy, primarily by indigenous populations, and later, upon its arrival in Europe, by cosmetics manufacturers who incorporated it into various preparations such as milks and beauty creams. The wood of the sweetgum, with its reddish-brown colour and renowned scent and physical properties, was widely used in cabinetmaking for the production of fine furniture.