American Sweet-gum

Overview

The American Sweet-gum can grow to be a large tree at 60 to 75 feet in height at a very fast rate. The leaves possess 5-7 lobes ranging in length from 4-8 inches and have a dark to medium glossy green that can turn anywhere from yellow to red to purple in the fall. This monoecious tree has non-showy, drooping, yellowish-green female flowers in early spring and male flowers that are upright, reddish-green in terminal panicles. The American Sweet-gum has gumball-like, spiny fruits that change from green to brown in late summer and fall that range from 1 to 1 1/2 inch in size. Fruits are a dehiscent capsule and persist into winter. They are considered messy, especially near sidewalks and patios.

Cultivation

The American Sweet-gum thrives in full sun to partial shade within deep, moist, bottomland soils. The tree is resistant to pests, but iron chlorosis can be a problem in high pH soils. 

Biodiversity Sustained

Due to its large size, it provides home and food to many different species of animals, including birds, rodents, and larger mammals even.