{"title":"Liquidambar","description":"\u003cp\u003eFew trees can rival the sweet gum for autumn colour. Its glossy, star-shaped leaves stay fresh and green all summer, then turn blazing shades of orange, crimson and purple as the season changes. Our range includes classic specimen trees such as 'Lane Roberts' and 'Worplesdon', the finely cut 'Stared' and the slender, space-saving 'Slender Silhouette'. There's a sweet gum for every size of garden. All are fully hardy and grow best in sun and neutral to acid soil.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"liquidambar-lane-roberts-12ltr-pot","title":"Liquidambar styraciflua 'Lane Roberts' 12ltr pot","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLiquidambar styraciflua 'Lane Roberts' – Sweet Gum – 12ltr Pot\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eFew trees can match 'Lane Roberts' for autumn drama. This Award of Garden Merit sweet gum holds glossy, star-shaped, maple-like leaves through spring and summer. As the season turns, they shift to a deep, almost blackish crimson that lasts for weeks rather than days. Once the leaves fall, the corky ridged twigs and furrowed bark give quiet structure through winter. It makes a superb specimen tree for a larger garden, where its broad, well-shaped crown has room to develop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ePlant in full sun for the richest autumn colour, although it will tolerate partial shade. It does best in moist but well-drained, neutral to acid soil, and copes with clay, loam or sand. Avoid chalky or strongly alkaline ground, where leaves can yellow. It is fully hardy (RHS H6) and handles exposed or sheltered sites. Water well through its first few summers while the roots establish. Little pruning is needed beyond removing crossing or damaged branches in the dormant season. Sweet gum is not considered toxic to people or pets. After a warm summer it may produce spiky, burr-like seed balls, so plant it away from lawns and paths where they could be a nuisance. Expect a height of 12m or more and a spread of over 8m within 10–20 years, so allow plenty of space from buildings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eSupplied in a 12 litre pot. Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"PengellyGardenCentre","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58808115200374,"sku":null,"price":78.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0380\/1766\/3020\/files\/Screenshot2026-09-24082251.png?v=1790234730"},{"product_id":"liquidambar-styraciflua-palo-alto-12ltr-pot","title":"Liquidambar styraciflua 'Palo Alto' 12ltr pot","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLiquidambar styraciflua 'Palo Alto' – Sweet Gum – 12ltr Pot\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e'Palo Alto' is a sweet gum with a naturally tidy shape. It grows as a neat, conical tree with a strong central leader, so it stays well-shaped with very little intervention. The glossy, star-shaped leaves are slightly smaller than the species and a fresh bright green through summer. In autumn they turn a long-lasting orange-red and deepen to rich burgundy before they fall. In winter, the thickly corky ridges along its branches and trunk are on show. It is an excellent choice where you want reliable autumn colour from a formal, symmetrical outline.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ePlant in full sun for the strongest autumn colour, although it will tolerate partial shade. It prefers moist but well-drained, neutral to acid soil and grows happily in clay, loam or sand. Avoid chalky or strongly alkaline ground, where leaves can yellow. It is fully hardy (RHS H6) and suits exposed or sheltered sites. Water well during dry spells in its first few years, because it dislikes prolonged drought. Pruning is rarely needed; remove any damaged or crossing branches in late winter. Sweet gum is not considered toxic to people or pets. Its round, spiky seed capsules can hang on the branches well into winter. Expect a height of 12m or more and a spread of over 8m within 10–20 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eSupplied in a 12 litre pot. Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"PengellyGardenCentre","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58808137941366,"sku":null,"price":78.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0380\/1766\/3020\/files\/Screenshot2026-09-24083029.png?v=1790235122"},{"product_id":"liquidambar-styraciflua-slender-silhouette-12ltr-pot","title":"Liquidambar styraciflua 'Slender Silhouette' 12ltr pot","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLiquidambar styraciflua 'Slender Silhouette' – Columnar Sweet Gum – 12ltr Pot\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eMost sweet gums need a large garden, but 'Slender Silhouette' offers the same autumn show in a fraction of the space. It was found growing wild in Tennessee and grows as a tall, strikingly narrow column, clothed in dense, glossy, star-shaped leaves. In autumn the whole tree turns shades of orange, flame red and brilliant purple-red. It makes a strong vertical accent in a smaller garden, courtyard or contemporary scheme, and a row of them makes an elegant screen or avenue where a broad tree simply wouldn't fit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ePlant in full sun for the best autumn colour, although it will tolerate partial shade. It prefers moist but well-drained, neutral to acid soil and grows in clay, loam or sand. Avoid chalky or strongly alkaline ground. It is fully hardy (RHS H6) and copes with exposed or sheltered positions. Water regularly through its first couple of summers while it establishes. After that it needs little attention and almost no pruning, because the narrow shape comes naturally. Heavy feeding encourages looser growth, so a leaner soil keeps the column tighter. Sweet gum is not considered toxic to people or pets. It may produce round, prickly seed capsules in autumn. Expect a height of 12m or more within 10–20 years, with a spread of just 2.5–4m.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eSupplied in a 12 litre pot. Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"PengellyGardenCentre","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58808146854262,"sku":null,"price":78.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0380\/1766\/3020\/files\/Screenshot2026-09-24083345.png?v=1790235279"},{"product_id":"liquidambar-styraciflua-stared-12ltr-pot","title":"Liquidambar styraciflua 'Stared' 12ltr pot","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLiquidambar styraciflua 'Stared' – Star-Leaved Sweet Gum – 12ltr Pot\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e'Stared' has the most finely cut foliage of the sweet gums. Its glossy leaves are deeply divided into slender, pointed lobes, which gives the whole tree a light, lacy texture from spring onwards. In autumn the canopy turns vivid red, orange and rich purple. It grows more slowly than many sweet gums, forming a dense, branching pyramid that keeps a handsome, well-balanced outline as it matures. It makes an elegant specimen for a lawn or larger border, and its distinctive leaves bring interest long before the autumn display begins. Also sold as 'Red Star' or 'Stella'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ePlant in full sun for the richest autumn colour, although it will tolerate partial shade. It prefers moist but well-drained, neutral to acid soil and grows in clay, loam or sand. Avoid chalky or strongly alkaline ground. It is fully hardy (RHS H6) and suits exposed or sheltered sites. It dislikes prolonged drought, so water well through dry spells, especially in its first few summers. Pruning is rarely needed; if you do need to shape it, do so in late winter before the buds break. Sweet gum is not considered toxic to people or pets. Spiky seed capsules can follow in autumn and often persist through winter. Expect it to reach 12m or more over 20–50 years, with the RHS giving an eventual spread of over 8m.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eSupplied in a 12 litre pot. Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"PengellyGardenCentre","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58808155177334,"sku":null,"price":78.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0380\/1766\/3020\/files\/Screenshot2026-09-24083621.png?v=1790235437"},{"product_id":"liquidambar-styraciflua-worplesdon-12ltr-pot","title":"Liquidambar styraciflua 'Worplesdon' 12ltr pot","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLiquidambar styraciflua 'Worplesdon' – Sweet Gum – 12ltr Pot\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e'Worplesdon' is one of the most dependable sweet gums for autumn colour and holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit. Its glossy, rich green leaves are deeply divided into long, narrow lobes, giving them a bold star shape. In autumn they turn glowing shades of orange and gold, often touched with purple and red, and the display lasts for weeks. It grows into a handsome, branching pyramid, and with age its branches develop characterful corky ridges that add texture through winter. It is a superb specimen tree for a lawn or the centrepiece of a larger garden.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ePlant in full sun for the best autumn colour, although it will tolerate partial shade. It prefers moist but well-drained, neutral to acid, moderately fertile soil. Avoid chalky or strongly alkaline ground. Dig plenty of well-rotted compost or manure into the planting hole and stake the tree firmly. Water well while it establishes. Once settled, it copes with dry spells better than many sweet gums. It is fully hardy (RHS H6) and suits exposed or sheltered sites. Little pruning is needed beyond removing broken or crossing branches in late autumn or winter. Sweet gum is not considered toxic to people or pets. Its spiky seed capsules appear reliably in autumn, so plant it away from paths and patios. Expect a height of 12m or more and a spread of over 8m within 10–20 years, so give it plenty of room.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eSupplied in a 12 litre pot. Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"PengellyGardenCentre","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58808162648438,"sku":null,"price":67.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0380\/1766\/3020\/files\/Screenshot2026-09-24083858.png?v=1790235634"},{"product_id":"liquidambar-styraciflua-12ltr-pot","title":"Liquidambar styraciflua  12ltr pot","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLiquidambar styraciflua – Sweet Gum – 12ltr Pot\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe American sweet gum has been a favourite in British gardens since the 17th century, and it remains one of the finest trees for autumn colour. Its glossy, star-shaped leaves have five to seven lobes and look fresh and green through spring and summer. As the weather cools, they turn glowing shades of orange, crimson and purple. The name comes from its fragrant resin, once described as \"liquid amber\". Young trees form a neat, broadly conical outline that becomes more rounded with age, and older trees develop attractively ridged, corky bark. It is a long-lived, stately specimen for a larger garden, parkland or woodland edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003ePlant in full sun for the richest autumn colour, although it will tolerate partial shade. It prefers moist but well-drained, fertile, neutral to acid soil and grows in clay, loam or sand. It does not thrive on chalky ground. It is fully hardy (RHS H6) and copes with exposed or sheltered sites. Water well through its first few summers while the roots establish. After that it needs little attention, and pruning is rarely necessary beyond removing damaged or crossing branches in winter. Sweet gum is not considered toxic to people or pets. Its hard, prickly seed balls can be uncomfortable underfoot, so plant it away from lawns you walk on barefoot and from paths. This is a tree for the long term: expect it to exceed 12m in height and 8m in spread, with the RHS giving more than 50 years to reach full size.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eSupplied in a 12 litre pot. Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"PengellyGardenCentre","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58808171692406,"sku":null,"price":67.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0380\/1766\/3020\/files\/Screenshot2026-09-24084254.png?v=1790235853"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0380\/1766\/3020\/collections\/Screenshot2026-09-24083621.png?v=1790236003","url":"https:\/\/www.pengellygardencentre.co.uk\/collections\/liquidambar.oembed","provider":"PengellyGardenCentre","version":"1.0","type":"link"}