Liquidambar styraciflua
As the name suggests, sweetgum produces a delightfully aromatic resin, or gum. This resin is called “liquid amber” (thus it’s Latin name) and was historically used in herbalism and as a chewing gum. Fun fact: chewing gum is among the most ancient candies in the world, as humans have chewed natural gums (like sweetgum) since the Neolithic period—that’s around 6,000 years ago! … Anyway, L. styraciflua is also an incredibly important hardwood timber species and is used extensively in plywood, furniture, railroad ties, cigar boxes, and many more. Sometimes called redgum, its wood is known for its beautiful red color. Wowza!
Family: Altingiaceae
Foliage: Deciduous
Mature height range: 50-70 ft., +100 ft. in the wild
Light exposure: Partial shade
Soil preference: Moist, well-drained
Tolerance: Tolerates a variety of sites, including those with poor drainage and salt damage
Wildlife: Fruit is eaten by birds and mammals, larval host plant for the luna moth (Actias luna) and promethea silkmoth (Callosmia promethea)
