Liquidambar

New Zealand’s Best Liquidambar Trees

Growing colourful trees in your garden delivers a vast range of benefits:

• They are visual plants that add impact to a space
• They attract birds and bees
• Street appeal can be greatly enhanced
• They can provide shelter and screening
• Children can learn the plants and become more involved with nature
• These plants will bring you pleasure for many years to come

We have the largest variety of Sweetgum trees and the right one for your space. Our Liquidambar trees have been selected to thrive in NZ’s climate. We grow and stock only the highest quality plants, sourcing them locally, and from NZ’s leading nurseries. Each plant is packed and transported with extreme care, ensuring it arrives to you in the same condition it was in when it left the nursery. If you are wanting to buy Liquidambar trees, shop with confidence from the best in the industry.

Common questions about growing Liquidambar

1. Is Liquidambar fast growing?

Liquidambar trees are fast growing and can grow up to 75 cm per year in ideal conditions. This makes them a good choice for people who want a shade tree or privacy screen quickly.

2. Is sweet gum the same as Liquidamber?

Sweet gum and Liquidamber are the same tree. The botanical name for the sweet gum tree is Liquidambar styraciflua. It is a native of eastern North America, and is also known by other names such as American storax, hazel pine, bilsted, redgum, satin-walnut, star-leaved gum, or alligatorwood.

Sweet Gum is a deciduous tree with star-shaped leaves that turn brilliant shades of red, orange, yellow, and purple in the fall. It is a popular ornamental tree in temperate climates, and is also valued for its wood, which is used in a variety of applications such as plywood, furniture, and musical instruments.

3. Is there a dwarf Liquidambar tree?

There are several dwarf cultivars of Liquidambar. These cultivars typically grow to a height of 2-3 m tall and 2-2.5 m wide. This makes them ideal for small gardens and containers.

Here are a few popular dwarf Liquidambar cultivars:

• Gumball
• Little Richard
• Festival
• Slender Silhouette

Dwarf Liquidambar trees have the same beautiful star-shaped leaves and brilliant fall foliage as their larger counterparts.

4. Is Liquidambar styraciflua the same as Acer?

Liquidambar styraciflua is not the same as Acer. Liquidambar styraciflua is a member of the Altingiaceae family, while Acer is a member of the Sapindaceae family. Both sweetgum and maple trees have star-shaped leaves, but there are several key differences between the two. Sweetgum leaves are arranged alternately on the stem, while maple leaves are arranged opposite each other. Sweetgum leaves also have a glossy, leathery texture, while maple leaves have a thinner, more papery texture. In addition, sweetgum trees produce spiky fruits, while maple trees produce winged fruits called samaras.

5. Do Liquidamber have invasive roots?

Liquidambar trees are known for their invasive roots. Their roots can grow deep and wide, and can damage driveways, paths, and even foundations. They can also clog sewer lines and pipes.

6. What is the common name for Liquidambar?

The most common name for Liquidambar is sweetgum. It is also known as:

• American storax
• Hazel pine
• Bilsted
• Redgum
• Satin-walnut
• Star-leaved gum
• Alligatorwood

The name "sweetgum" comes from the aromatic resin that exudes from wounds to the tree. This resin was used by Native Americans for a variety of purposes, including chewing gum, incense, and medicine.

7. Is Liquidambar poisonous?

Liquidambar trees are not generally considered to be poisonous. However, the sap of the tree can irritate the skin and eyes, and the fruits can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

8. What is the lifespan of a sweet gum tree?

Sweet gum trees have a long lifespan, typically living for 100-400 years. Some specimens have been known to live for over 600 years. The lifespan of a sweet gum tree depends on a number of factors, including the climate, soil conditions, and the presence of pests and diseases.