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LIQUIDAMBAR styraciflua
Commonly known as Satinwood, Sweet gum
Maple foliage with excellent autumn colouring, liquid-amber describes it perfectly
Further Reading....
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DeciduousPalmately 5-lobed or 7-lobed, glossy, mid-green leaves to 15cm (6in) across turning orange, red and purple in autumn.
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Height25m (82ft)
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Spread12m (39ft)
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TreeYoung shoots often have corky wings.
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Hardy - very cold winterHardy in all of UK and northern Europe. Plant can possibly withstand temperatures down to -20°C (-4°F)
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Full sunFor best autumn colour.
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Partial shade
LIQUIDAMBAR styraciflua
- Details
- Description
- Mature Size
- Tips and Advice
- Goes Well With
- Planting Combinations
- Other Suggestions
- See Also...
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Additional FeaturesMedicinal propertiesPests & DiseasesNone.Place of originEastern USA, Mexico.
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Garden Location/ConditionsWoodland garden
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HardinessFully hardy
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Leaf formPalmate
(see photos above) -
Leaf marginLobed
(see photos above) -
Pruning groupPruning group 1Suitable for: Deciduous and evergreen trees, and some deciduous shrubs.
Pruning: Minimal pruning required. Prune wayward or crossing branches to maintain a healthy framework.
When: When dormant in the late winter/early spring. Some in the summer/autumn to prevent bleeding of sap.
RHS group 1 -
Seasonal InterestAutumn
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Soil ConditionsFertile moist well-drained soilNeutral to acid soil
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Tree ShapeBroadly conical
Jan
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Liquidambar - Growing Guide
Trees - Care Guide
- How to plant a tree - Video Tip ondemand_video
- How to plant a tree
- Ties - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Restaking fallen young trees - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Fallen old tree - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Clearing up fallen beech tree - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Spring pruning - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing side shoots - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Pruning and Shaping Magnolia - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Deer protection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Weed Spraying - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing Ivy - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing wire protection - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Tree Survey - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Crown uplift - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing shoots below graft - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Removing peeling bark - Video Tip ondemand_video
- Maintaining variegation - Video Tip ondemand_video
25m (82ft)
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12m (39ft) |

LIQUIDAMBAR styraciflua 'Worplesdon'
Sweet gum, Satinwood
Available from £30.00

CRATAEGUS laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet'
Midland hawthorn, Red May, Double crimson hawthorn
Available from £18.50

NYSSA sylvatica
Black gum, Pepperidge
Available from £16.00

OXYDENDRUM arboreum
Sorrel tree, Sourwood
Available from £25.00
Buy Varieties of LIQUIDAMBAR styraciflua

LIQUIDAMBAR styraciflua 'Golden Sun'
Satinwood, Sweet gum
new leaves emerge pale yellow in spring, changing to green in summer and turning red in autumn. Golden-yellow stems


LIQUIDAMBAR styraciflua 'Slender Silhouette'
Satinwood, Sweet gum
fastigiate habit with spectacular autumn colour in hues of orange through red to purple


LIQUIDAMBAR styraciflua 'Worplesdon'
Satinwood, Sweet gum
long narrow lobes to the leaves which turn yellow and orange in the autumn. Occasionally produces fruit which other varieties do not in the UK
Useful extras...

Fertilisers & Feeds - Vitax
Q4 Pelleted Fertiliser
A useful fertiliser suitable for use on a wide variety of plants. Q4 provides all the nutrients and trace elements essential for vigorous growth, abundant flowering and ripening of fruit.
3 options from £6.00

Fertilisers & Feeds - Empathy
Rootgrow mycorrhizal fungi
Recommended by the RHS. Contains Rootgrow™ mycorrhizal fungi. Suitable for all trees and shrubs (except rhododendrons, azaleas, heathers, cranberries and blueberries)
2 options from £6.00

Fertilisers & Feeds - Empathy
All-purpose Seaweed Stimulant
All-purpose organic concentrated seaweed feed that is a ready to use, derived from sustainable harvested kelp, that can be used on all outdoor and indoor plants, except acid loving plants.
Perfect used in conjunction with Rootgrow™.
Only £7.50

Garden Goodies
Slate Plant Labels
These wonderfully tactile natural slate plant labels are hand made in Cornwall and come with a chalk pen.
Just stick them in your pot or border. Pack of 6.
Only £10.20

Garden Goodies
Slate Tie-on Plant Labels
Hand made in Cornwall, these delightful natural slate labels are perfect for pots.
Comes with chalk pen. Pack of 5
Only £10.20