Liquidambar or Sweet Gum trees are some of the very best trees for autumn colour. The star-shaped leaves turn wonderful vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow and purple. Further interest is provided by corky bark and woody seed clusters in winter that are known as "gumballs".

Features of Liquidambar Trees

Liquidambar are typically large deciduous trees, although we offer some narrow columnar and compact versions ideal for small gardens. They grow well in both full sun and partial shade.

The ornate  3 to 7 lobed palmate leaves are reminiscent of Maple leaves. In addition to their wonderful autumn colour, Liquidambar leaves also have a pleasant aroma, especially when crushed. The bark is grey with vertical grooves and makes good bark rubbings. The flowers are small but appear in dense clusters. Liquidambar trees produce fruits called ‘gumballs’ which are woody balls with spikes containing lots of seeds. It is thought the fruits have spikes so to attach themselves to the fur of small animals to help in dispersing the seeds.

History and Uses of Liquidambar

The common name Sweet Gum comes from the thick sap it produces. Named by Carl Linnaeus in 1753 from the Latin liquidus meaning fluid and the Arabic ambar in reference to the sap which oozes from the bark when wounded. The hardened sap can be chewed like gum and has been used like this for many years in southern parts of the US. Other names include star-leaved gum and redgum.

Liquidambar trees were first introduced to the UK by John Bannister, a U.S botanist, in 1681. Bannister was employed by Henry Compton the Bishop of London who planted the trees in the Fulham Palace gardens. However, the Spanish naturalist Hernandez was the first European to discover the tree in the early 16^th century.

Classed as a hardwood and second only to Oak, the attractive wood of Liquidambar trees has been used for making furniture and baskets, as well as applied as a veneer for plywood. The reddish coloured wood is used as imitation mahogany. In Chinese Herbal medicine, the spikey fruit called lu lu tong meaning 'all roads open' has been used to promote blood movement and treating specific pains.