Liquidambar styraciflua 12ltr pot

Liquidambar styraciflua – Sweet Gum – 12ltr Pot

The 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.

Plant 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.

Supplied in a 12 litre pot. Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.