Liquidambar styraciflua / Sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua, commonly known as Sweetgum, is a tall, long-lived, deciduous hardwood tree with striking purple, red, orange, and yellow fall color. Growing up to 60-85' tall, it makes for an excellent specimen shade tree. Unique star shaped leaves have a sweet scent when handled, and are complemented by interesting spiked gum ball seed pods that can be collected for crafts. It is found growing throughout the northeastern coastal zone in moist, low woodlands and along stream edges, but is highly adapted to various growing conditions. It can tolerate full sun, deer, rabbit, clay, black walnut, fire, and urban environments. The wood is desirable in carpentry and the resin gum has been used to produce medicines, fragrances, and chewing gums.

This is a host plant to a few interesting native moth larvae, and songbirds regularly snack on the seeds from fallen pods. Various mammals eat the bark as well.

Ecoregion 58 - Northeastern Coastal Zone