Liquidambar styraciflua Worplesdon (Sweet Gum)

Rivaling the best Japanese maples, award-winning Liquidambar styraciflua 'Worplesdon' (Sweet Gum) is a magnificent, deciduous tree adorned with a straight trunk and a broadly conical crown at maturity. Its foliage of large, star-shaped, deeply lobed, glossy green leaves turns fiery red, orange, and yellow in fall before falling, revealing the attractive branching pattern, furrowed bark, and corky wings on twigs. In mid-late spring, inconspicuous, yellow-green flowers borne in spherical clusters are on display. They are followed by clusters of hard, spherical, bristly gum balls, 1 in. across (2.5 cm), which usually remain on the tree through the winter. A superb choice for fall color, this Sweet Gum is good-looking all year and makes a superb shade tree or specimen tree. Excellent plant for moist soil areas along streams and ponds.

• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
• Grows up to 30-50 ft. tall (9-15 m) and 25-40 ft. wide (8-12 m)
• A full sun lover, this plant is easily grown in deep, medium moisture, acidic, well-drained soils. Tolerant to a variety of soil conditions but dislikes alkaline soils.
• Perfect as a specimen plant. Fruit can cause litter problems that detract from using this tree as a street tree.
• Low maintenance, this beautiful tree is not subject to serious insect or disease issues. Deer and rabbit resistant.
• Propagate by semi-hardwood cuttings.