American Sweetgum

Do you want to plant a American Sweetgum? Here you will find all the information you need on how to best plant the American Sweetgum, and on pruning and caring for your American Sweetgum.
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General characteristics of a American Sweetgum

The American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a deciduous tree native to eastern North America. It has been cultivated as an ornamental tree in Europe since 1688. The leaves have beautiful autumn colors: deep red, yellow, and orange.

Characteristics


How to plant a American Sweetgum

It's best to transplant the plant with its root ball, as it generally doesn't tolerate transplanting well. Younger plants are preferred for a better chance of success.

How to harvest a American Sweetgum

Dig out the root system thoroughly, preferably including (part of the) root ball.

Caring for and pruning your American Sweetgum

https://edepot.wur.nl/440073

https://www.ecopedia.be/boom/amberboom

 

 

Where does a American Sweetgum grow

Native to North and Eastern America and Mexico. It requires slightly acidic soil and is not very wind-tolerant.


General

Origin
Alien
Tree Type Deciduous tree

Length and Age

Length in about 10 years 5 Up to 7 Meter
Reproductive Maturity in How Many Years 10 Up to 15 year
Maximum Age 50 Up to 150 year
Required Space 20 Up to 30m2
Growth Rate

Reproduction

Tree is Self-Pollinating No
Reproduction Method
Makes seedlings
Reproduction rate

Reproduction rate

1. Very low reproduction rate. The plant hardly spreads, has few seeds or vegetative spread (e.g., trees with heavy seeds).
2. Low reproduction rate. Spread via limited seed production or specific conditions required
3. Average reproduction rate. Regular spread, depending on wind, water, or animals, at a moderate speed (e.g., dandelion).
4. High reproduction rate. Many seeds and multiple spread strategies (wind, birds, vegetative). Quickly colonizes open spaces
5. Very high reproduction rate. Invasive species that spread explosively over large distances (e.g., Japanese knotweed).

Pruning Period

This Tree is Evergreen No
Summer June tot July
Winter November tot December
Leaf Shapes Hand-shaped
Easy to prune Yes

Bark Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Lenticels Yes
Colour

Bud Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)

Colour
Bud Position
Varied
Bud Shape
Egg-shaped

Other

Root
Broad root system
Superficial rooting
Bloom
Has flowers
Wind sensitivity Sensitive to (sea) wind

Diseases

Sensitive to the Following Diseases
Not particularly susceptible to any specific disease

Harvest/recognition in winter

Sometimes corky ridges appear on the twigs. Buds are fairly large and brownish.

Light requirement of the American Sweetgum

The American Sweetgum thrives best under these light conditions.
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade

    • Suitable soil types for the American Sweetgum

    In this overview, you can find which soil types are best for the American Sweetgum to grow.
    Soil type Suitability
    light clay
    heavy clay
    sand
    peatland
    Loam
    Moerig op zand
    Lichte zavel
    Zware zavel

    Humidity

    A (ground)water level indicates how deep the groundwater usually is below the surface. The higher the Roman numeral, the deeper the groundwater.
    I
    II
    III
    IV
    V
    VI
    VII
    VIII

    Suitable acidity level for the American Sweetgum

    Each soil type has a certain acidity level, measured in pH values. You can plant the American Sweetgum in soil that falls within this range:
    0.0
    0.5
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0

    Nutritional needs of the American Sweetgum

    Some soil types offer more nutritional richness than others.
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Very nutrient-poor soil
    2. Very nutrient-poor to nutrient-poor soil
    3. Nutrient-poor soil
    4. Nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich soil
    5. Moderately nutrient-rich soil
    6. Moderately nutrient-rich to nutrient-rich soil
    7. Nutrient-rich soil
    8. Extremely nutrient-rich soil
    9. Very extremely nutrient-rich soil

    Humidity

    Does American Sweetgum like to have its roots in extremely dry (1.0) or wet (9.0) soil?
    1.0
    1.5
    2.0
    2.5
    3.0
    3.5
    4.0
    4.5
    5.0
    5.5
    6.0
    6.5
    7.0
    7.5
    8.0
    8.5
    9.0
    1. Extremely dry soils
    2. Extremely dry to dry soils
    3. Dry soils
    4. Dry to dry/moist soils
    5. Dry/moist soils
    6. Dry/moist to moist soils
    7. Moist soils
    8. Moist to wet soils
    9. Wet soils

    To be applied in landscapes

    0 = not filled in, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Landscape Suitability
    Agroforestry
    Hedge
    Hedge
    Forest
    Feeding hedge
    Back yard
    Small back yard
    Solitary
    Wood wall

    Cultural-historical value

    0 = not filled in, 1 = low, 9 = high

    Insects

    How many insects typically live on this tree/plant?
    Which insect groups live on this tree/plant?
    Are there insects dependent on this species? No
    Which insect species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Birds

    Average number of birds per tree/plant?
    Which bird groups live on this tree/plant?

    Mammals

    Average number of mammals per tree/plant?
    Which mammal groups live on this tree/plant?
    Are there mammals dependent on this species? No
    Which mammal species are dependent on this tree/plant?

    Bloom Period

    Summer April Up to May

    Tree Species

    Tree species that this tree prefers to grow with

    Suitable for mammals?

    toxic, 1 = unsuitable, 5 = very suitable
    Mammal Suitability
    Horse
    Human
    Chicken
    Cow
    Goat
    Sheep
    Pig
    Squirrel
    Deer
    Herbivorous rodents
    Ferret
    Badgers
    Beavers
    Dog
    Cat
    Mouse
    Roe deer
    Foxes
    Wild boar

    Explanation

    Explanation

    Edibility

    • Toxic: This tree or shrub is toxic to mammals and absolutely unsuitable for consumption.
    1. Very unsuitable: This tree or shrub is unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can be harmful.
    2. Unsuitable: This tree or shrub is generally unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can have adverse effects.
    3. Moderately suitable: This tree or shrub is moderately suitable as food for mammals, possibly with certain risks or limitations.
    4. Suitable: This tree or shrub is generally suitable as food for mammals, with little to no risks.
    5. Very suitable: This tree or shrub is very suitable as food for mammals, safe, and of high nutritional value.


    Trunk Height

    Average Trunk Height (hg) of the basal area median tree

    from - to, in whole meters, average

    Information not available

    Trunk Diameter

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree.

    from - to, in whole centimeters, average

    Information not available

    Aboveground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Belowground Biomass

    in whole kg

    Information not available

    Substance Binder

    Which substances can be bound or absorbed?
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    Carbon Attraction (kf)

    (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree Deciduous Trees (Kf = 0,48)

    Warming Resistance

    This tree is well resistant to the warming (plus 3 degrees) of our climate and fits into the future of our climate (heat and drought resistant). Yes
    CO2
    Particulate matter

    CO2

    0. not filled in
    1. no storage
    2. low storage
    3. moderate storage
    4. high storage
    5. very high storage

    Fine Dust

    0. not filled in
    1. no capture capacity
    2. low capture capacity
    3. moderate capture capacity
    4. high capture capacity
    5. very high capture capacity

    This is what an adult tree American Sweetgum looks like

    The american sweetgum tree - mature tree
    American sweetgum in winter

    This is what the fruits of a American Sweetgum look like

    The fruit of the american sweetgum tree
    Fruit of the american sweetgum tree in winter

    This is what the bud of a American Sweetgum looks like

    Bud of an american sweetgum tree

    This is what the leaf of a American Sweetgum looks like

    Leaf of the american sweetgum tree
    Leaf in autumn of the american sweetgum tree