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Liquidambar trees

Liquidambar trees, or sweet gums, are known for their spectacular autumn leaf colours.

  • Gum Ball

    A small tree with maple like leaves, and stunning autumn colours.
    • Height after 10 years: 1.5m-2.5m / 5ft-8ft
    Liquidambar styraciflua
  • Liquidambar styraciflua

    Liquidambar styraciflua liquidambar
    An attractive sweet gum tree with excellent autumnal foliage colours.
    £69.00 - £75.00buy
    • Height after 10 years: 3m-5m / 10ft-16ft
    Liquidambar styraciflua
  • Palo Alto

    This form of Liquidambar features long narrow lobed leaves and strong long-lived autumnal foliage colours.
    £74.00buy
    • Height after 10 years: 3m-5m / 10ft-16ft
    • Awards: RHS AGM (current)
    Liquidambar styraciflua
  • Slender Silhouette

    Slender Silhouette is a particularly columnar form of Liquidambar, with vibrant yellow and red autumn foliage colours.
    £74.00buy
    • Height after 10 years: 3m-5m / 10ft-16ft
    • Awards: RHS AGM (current)
    Liquidambar styraciflua
  • Stared

    Stared features small dainty 7-lobed leaves which are deeply incised and offer strong autumn colours.
    £74.00buy
    • Height after 10 years: 5m-8m / 16ft-25ft
    Liquidambar styraciflua
  • Worplesdon

    An elegant upright conical tree with excellent orange and gold autumn leaf colours.
    £74.00buy
    • Height after 10 years: 3m-5m / 10ft-16ft
    • Awards: RHS AGM (current)
    Liquidambar styraciflua


How to choose Liquidambar trees

Liquidambar trees are native to the eastern areas of North America, found particularly in low-lying areas near lakes or rivers or swamps.

They are grown primarily for their attractive forms, and especially for the bright autumnal leaf colours. Their lobed leaves and colourful foliage resemble those of Maples but their fruits are tiny spiky balls (known as gumballs"), whereas maples have winged seeds.

For best results in the UK plant in full sun in a sheltered location with well-drained soil, which may be neutral or slightly acidic. The strongest autumn colours are somewhat dependent on the weather - the ideal is a long spell of sunny days and clear cold nights.