The Sweetgum is a non-native tree of the UK and widely planted in parks and green spaces. It's native range is eastern North America, the tropical montane regions of Mexico and Central America. It was introduced into Europe in 1681 and is now a popular choice of tree for landscaping within the UK.
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It is a large deciduous tree capable of growing up to 28m tall and can live for up to 200 years. The Sweetgum is a fairly fast-growing tree and can grow between 10 to 20 meters in about 15 to 20 years. There are quite a few different cultivars of this tree which is why it's so widely planted in parks and green spaces. A good example is the 'Slender Silhouette' cultivar which takes up less space.
ENTIRE TREE
BARK & TRUNK
It's common name is the Sweetgum but it also goes by American red gum,  American sweet gum, copalm balsam, red gum and satin walnut. Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father of the United States and had a great fondess for this tree. The oak is the National tree of the USA, but for some the Sweetgum holds more significance.
CANOPY
CROWN
The winter buds of sweetgum twigs are egg-shaped and made up of bud scales with acute tips . They are green to orange-brown or reddish in colour and sometimes sticky. The lateral buds are alternately arranged, stalkless and flattened against the twig and they are much smaller than the terminal buds. The pith of sweetgum twigs is solid, continuous, brownish, and irregularly shaped.
 The branches are light brown and often corky. Older Sweetgum trees will have deeply furrowed gray and brown bark and is sometimes called "alligator wood" for its resemblance to alligator skin.
BRANCHES & TWIGS
LEAVES
The leaves are alternate and usually star shaped. The leaf margin is serrated and lobed with typically five leaf tips. They are typically
8 to 13 cm wide on average and have three distinct bundle scars.. During the Autumn the leaf colour will change to a deep red / burgandy wine colour. Quite often they are planted in avenues and they are a stunning sight in the Autumn.
FLOWERS
FRUIT
It is monoecious which means that both the male and female flowers are on the same tree but different parts. The male flowers are arranged in clusters on hairy spikes, yellowish-green and drooping. The female flowers are larger than the male flowers and form globose heads and develop into spiky seed capsules after pollination. They are pollinated by the wind.
BUDS
GROUND LITTER
The fruits are very interesting as at a glance look like spiky brown ping pong balls. They are around 4cm and composed of 40 to 60 capsules.  Each of these capsules contains one to two small seeds. They are quite light in weight but surprsingly hard. The ground can be littered and due to their spiky tips they often snag or get caught on other things. This makes raking the ground quite a challange and they are a nightmare for lawnmowers.
OTHER USEFUL DATA
Picture
The Biodiversity Heritage Library
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Carbon performance certificate by Treeconomics for Barcham Pro Trees
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Carbon capture data by Treeconomics for Barcham Pro Trees
OTHER USEFUL RESOURCES
QUICK FACTS
  • The Sweetgum is a non-native tree of the UK and widely planted in parks and green spaces
  • It's native range is eastern North America, the tropical montane regions of Mexico and Central America
  • It was introduced into Europe in 1681 and is now a popular choice of tree for landscaping within the UK
  • It is a large deciduous tree capable of growing up to 28m tall and can live for up to 200 years
  • The Sweetgum is a fairly fast-growing tree and can grow between 10 to 20 meters in about 15 to 20 years
  • There are quite a few different cultivars of this tree which is why it's so widely planted in parks and green spaces
  • A good example is the 'Slender Silhouette' cultivar which takes up less space
  • It's common name is the Sweetgum but it also goes by American red gum,  American sweet gum, copalm balsam, red gum and satin walnut
  • Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father of the United States and had a great fondess for this tree
  • The oak is the National tree of the USA, but for some the Sweetgum holds more significance
  • The winter buds of sweetgum twigs are egg-shaped and made up of bud scales with acute tips 
  • They are green to orange-brown or reddish in colour and sometimes sticky
  • The lateral buds are alternately arranged, stalkless and flattened against the twig and they are much smaller than the terminal buds.
  • The pith of sweetgum twigs is solid, continuous, brownish, and irregularly shaped
  • The branches are light brown and often corky
  • Older Sweetgum trees will have deeply furrowed gray and brown bark and is sometimes called "alligator wood" for its resemblance to alligator skin
  • The leaves are alternate and usually star shaped
  • The leaf margin is serrated and lobed with typically five leaf tips
  • They are typically 8 to 13 cm wide on average and have three distinct bundle scars
  • During the Autumn the leaf colour will change to a deep red / burgandy wine colour
  • Quite often they are planted in avenues and they are a stunning sight in the Autumn
  • It is monoecious which means that both the male and female flowers are on the same tree but different parts
  • The male flowers are arranged in clusters on hairy spikes, yellowish-green and drooping
  • The female flowers are larger than the male flowers and form globose heads and develop into spiky seed capsules after pollination
  • They are pollinated by the wind
  • The fruits are very interesting as at a glance look like spiky brown ping pong balls
  • They are around 4cm and composed of 40 to 60 capsules
  • Each of these capsules contains one to two small seeds
  • They are quite light in weight but surprsingly hard
  • The ground can be littered and due to their spiky tips they often snag or get caught on other things
  • This makes raking the ground quite a challange and they are a nightmare for lawnmowers
SIMILAR LOOKING TREES
PIN OAK
NORWAY MAPLE
SILVER MAPLE
PLEASE LEAF ME ANY FEEDBACK / COMMENTS
If there is anything out of place or wrong please contact me. Equally if there is anything you wish to add please let me know. The more information we have about Sweetgum the better. Many thanks!