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. 

On Xavier's Campus, over the Next 20 Years, this Tree will:

Stormwater Runoff Intercepted:  gallons

CO2 Reduction:  lbs

Electricity Savings:  kilowatt/hours

Environmental Benefits (in US dollars) Over the Next Decade: $