NC State Extension. It is a medium-sized to large tree, growing to 65-115 ft, rarely to 135 ft tall, with a trunk up to 6 ft in diameter and may live to 400 years. Trees Image Gallery. The image below shows one that has opened to release its tiny papery winged seeds from its many seed-bearing capsules. If the leaves are opposite each other on the branch, you have a maple. "Sweet Gum Tree" Steve Nix is a member of the Society of American Foresters and a former forest resources analyst for the state of Alabama. Deep, glossy green star-shaped leaves mark the Sweetgum. 5. Illustration uses linear gradients. Tu, We: 10 a.m. 7 p.m. Bark matures to medium gray and resembles . Black gum trees are a little smaller, reaching a full height of only 30-50 feet, according to the University of Kentucky. Tree size: This slow-growing tree attains a height of 30 to 50 feet and a width of 20 to 30 feet. Have one Morraine with smooth trunk and a little faster growing, not as crinkled and gnarly and interesting as the others, but very pretty summer leaves. liquidambars when she moved in. Metal Print of Yellow autumn leaf isolated on a white background. All you need to do is find a tree that you can confirm as being Liquidambar Styraciflua, then crush a leaf under your nose. If that wasnt enough, the leaves of black walnut trees contain ingredients that can also prevent seeds from germinating. There are some leaves that should never be composted and never used around plants. It will seem as though every leaf on the tree counted to three and then let go, all at once. Latin Name Acer then something or other. Sweet gum leaves turn a mix of red, orange and yellow, often on the same tree. Here is to making the most of your autumn leaves, and to building healthy, nutrient filled compost with leaves! Illustration uses linear gradients. . Description : Sweet gum is a large tree with a long, cylindrical trunk, pyramidal crown, and corky wings on branches and twigs. But high levels of lignin also cause another issue in that they love to devour nitrogen. Stems often have corky and attractive wings during the second year. Growth habit: Pyramidal when young, black gum develops an irregular rounded or flat-topped form with age. Like the sweetgum and the yellow-poplar, the sycamore has leaves that are alternate in arrangement. If you want to find out what they are, leave a few to . Identifying Elms With Basic Characteristics. myimages2[1]="../../../images/top-banner/behindtheforum.jpg" In case youve missed it, Ive been blogging about commonly confused tree species (and, wellcommonly confuses species in general). Liquidambar styraciflua. They are vigorous shade trees from the southeastern United States with star-shaped leaves that smell sweetly resinous if scratched. The sweet gum resembles a maple tree, and in the summer, the star-shaped leaves and sturdy trunk are impressive, if easily overlooked. From the leaf shape you might think it a maple, except that no maple can match the sweet odor. The wood of sweetgum trees is used in the production of plywood and veneer, while the sap, leaves, and bark have shown potential in medicinal applications. imagelinks[4]="http://www.ezboardwalk.com/" Maple is in the family Aceraceae while sweet gum in in the family Altingiaceae. Thank you for visiting the blog. Lara earned her Bachelors and Masters degree in Natural Resource Conservation from the University of Florida and is a graduate of the Natural Resources Leadership Institute. myimages2[2]="../../../images/top-banner/behindtheforum.jpg" It may be a function of soil type/compaction, etc., but every sweetgum I've ever encountered in a residential yard situation threw up huge, obtrusive roots projecting well above the soil surface.I've seen literally millions of the invasive natives growing wild in the woodlands of my native AL, and didn't necessarily notice the surface roots so much there, though now that I think about it, even out in the woods, those above soil-surface roots were pretty prominent. Have a baby variegated (green and white leaves) doing really well. Each leaf is on its own layer and is easily separated from the other leaves and from the white background and shadows. 412-766-7447 6. random_imglink() Sweet Gum . Sweetgum fruit is a round, spikey and woody ball of capsules that is about one to one-and-a-half inches in diameter. Bark is brown to gray, very rough with . 17, 2015, pp. Black maple leaves have three lobes, while sugar maples have the traditional five lobes. Her work focuses on wildlife, water, and general environmental education. } We offer a wide range of residential and commercial tree services for all tree species . Both male flowers and female flowers occur on the same tree, appearing as the leaves emerge in the Spring. Lemon Scented Gum Tree, its strong lemon scent repels insects. Examine the bark. Leaves are actually one of the best resources around for gardeners. Also called star-leaved gum, gumtree, and alligator-wood, this moderately-sized deciduous tree is common in the eastern United States, and can be found in small numbers in Mexico and as far south as Nicaragua. Thursday: 10 a.m. 5 p.m. Deep, glossy green star-shaped leaves mark the Sweetgum. In summer they are shiny dark green above and downy below. The leaves of a maple tree are very distinct, but that shape does not belong to maple leaves alonea number of broadleaf trees have maple-like leaves. imagelinks[6]="http://www.ezboardwalk.com/" Sweet-gum (288-47*10) is in the East Illinois 53. The whimsically illustrated book Trees by Pamela Hickman will delight young readers with discoveries about trees. They have five to seven lobes and are 4 to 8 inches long and wide with serrate margins. To distinguish them, look at the teeth on the leaf edges. The tree is located in Alley Pond Park in Queens and is visible from Interstate 495. Notice the intensity and depth of color in the image below by Jorge Franganillo. Both are hardwoods, much prized by furniture makers. The green spiny fruit clusters become dry and brown during the late Summer. Though most abundant east of the Mississippi River and especially in the southern U.S., the sweetgum tree is one of the most common tree species in the eastern United States and has spread in small groups south to Central American countries including Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. Often, newly planted trees will scarcely grow at all for the first two or three years. Those reddish-pink, winged seed things you used to throw in the air and watch them flutter to the ground? Leaves: The leaves of the Red Maple are very roughly toothed with 3-5 shallow lobes. Sweet potato leaves. Pro: The wood has many uses, including flooring, lumber, and paper pulp among other things. Turns out, mother nature gave us a fairly effective way of identifying plants. Maple leaves form opposite of each other while the leaves of the Sweet Gum form alternately as shown in the botanical image below. Sweetgums love water. The American sweetgum with its star-shaped leaves, neatly compact crown, interesting fruit, and twigs with unique corky growths called wings is an attractive shade tree. Because of their beautiful coloring, maples are often grown as ornamental trees. Members of this small family also include a variety of sweetgum growing in eastern Mexico and Liquidambar orientalis, which is native to Central Asia. . sweet gum: [noun] a North American tree (Liquidambar styraciflua) of the witch-hazel family with palmately lobed glossy green leaves, corky twigs, a round spiny brown fruit cluster, and hard wood. This "trimmed" top helps distinguish the leaves from those of maples and sycamores. They grow hard spiky fruit, or gumballs, and have star shaped leaves similar to those of a maple tree. The female flower head droops downward from a two-inch long light green peduncle, or stem. The new, young leaves of Sweetgum frequently have more--rather than fewer--lobes, and have more pronounced teeth. Features glossy green star-shaped leaves throughout the summer Want more information on trees and gardening? By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Sticky and aromatic, it may also help to deter burrowing insects. Yellow-bellied sapsuckers are attracted by the sweet sap, evidence of their visitation can be noted by rows of small holes marking the trunk. Although the leaves have a similar shape to some maple leaves, a quick check of the leaf growth pattern can confirm the tree's identity. Sweetgum wood is used to make veneer, plywood, cabinets and furniture. The larva of the Regal Moth, known as the Hickory Horned Devil can be found dining upon the leaves of the Sweet Gum. The common name Sweet Gum comes from the sweet tasting and gummy consistency of its resin. The leaf margin of red maples are coarsely toothed to entire (smooth) while the margins of sweetgum are finely toothed. The leaves of a maple tree are quite distinct, but that leaf shape does not belong to maple trees alone. Psalm 91:1, Quote from: Red Clay Hound on October 30, 2012, 10:48:18 AM, Quote from: WDH on October 30, 2012, 09:44:15 PM, Quote from: doctorb on October 31, 2012, 06:07:53 PM, Quote from: WDH on November 01, 2012, 09:55:07 PM, Trying to see the forest AND the trees (not always as easy as it sounds). The two main categories of leaf arrangement are alternate or opposite. Here in So. The fruit of sweetgum looks nothing like the fruit of red maple. When composting the varieties below, try to keep your piles make-up at no more than 10 to 15% of these types of leaves: With their thick, shiny outer layer, oak leaves are extremely slow in decomposing. "Liquidambar Styraciflua 'Rotundiloba. One thing is for sure, when it comes to composting, all leaves are not the same and that is why it is vital to know what leaves are best for composting, which should be used in moderation, and which varieties of leaves should be left out of your pile completely! In severe chlorosis even the veins may turn yellow or the leaf may even turn white. In fact, it is one of the most pH-tolerant of all trees, thriving equally well in acid or alkaline conditions. Native to North America; common in floodplains and along rivers. Personnaliser mon exprience l'aide de cookies, Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers, Outdoor Lighting & Audio/Visual Specialists. Maples constitute one of the most important groups of ornamentals for planting in lawns, along streets, and in parks. In fact, there are areas close to my neighborhood where the sidewalks are currently closed as the city goes through its endless process of removing broken concrete, cutting roots, leveling and re-laying concrete. Other trees with . //-->,