Sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua

Altingiaceae · Tree

Sweetgum offers brilliant star-shaped leaves that blaze in multiple colors—red, purple, and yellow—in the fall. Its distinctive corky bark and spiky fruit balls add winter interest.

• · Prefers moist, acidic soils for best fall color.
• · Consider sterile cultivars to avoid fruit drop.
• · Water deeply during establishment and dry spells.