sweet gum 'Gum Ball'

Also known as: Information to be completed

A compact, rounded tree, often grown as a standard pom pom tree. Leaves are alternate, maple-like and dense and take on brilliant and long-lasting autumn colour. Flowers and fruits are inconspicuous, although fruits are a decorative spiky woody capsule.

Scientific classification

Species: sweet gum 'Gum Ball' (Liquidambar styraciflua 'Gum Ball')
Genus: Liquidambar
Family: Hamamelidaceae

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Toxicity: Trees
Plant type: 1.5-2.5 metres
Height: 1.5-2.5 metres
Spread: Deciduous
Foliage: Columnar upright
Habit: Autumn · Spring · Summer
Season of interest: Full sun · Partial shade
Sunlight: Information to be completed
Ideal temperature

sweet gum 'Gum Ball' pictures

Distribution of sweet gum 'Gum Ball'

Distribution map

Distribution of the original taxon: Liquidambar styraciflua

Native
Introduced
Cultivated

Source：WCVP v16 · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · CC BY 3.0 · Boundaries：WGSRPD / TDWG

Culture

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Toxicity

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Quick identification of sweet gum 'Gum Ball'

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sweet gum 'Gum Ball' care guide

Moderate regular watering, allowing brief slight drying between soakings
Watering: Full sun · Partial shade
Sunlight: Information to be completed
Ideal temperature

Watering

Moderate regular watering, allowing brief slight drying between soakings

Fertilizing

Balanced perennial feed every four weeks from spring through summer

Pruning

Little pruning is needed. Remove diseased, damaged, crowded or crossing shoots and unwanted growth. Timing depends on the plant: generally late winter or early spring; plants prone to bleeding and deciduous magnolias need different timing, and deciduous azaleas and lilacs are pruned after flowering.

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings

Growing

Grow in moist but well-drained neutral to acid, moderately fertile soil, in full sun or partial shade. Suitable for woodlands or as a specimen tree. Full sun brings out the best autumn colour - see tree cultivation

More growing and care information →