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Tree · Altingiaceae family

Sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua

Full sun in a garden ~4.8 m × ~3.3 m Flowers April–May to −29 °C
Flower colours Click a colour

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun
in a garden after 10 years~4.8 m
in the wild up to 30 m
spacing 12 m
FlowersApril–May
PlantingMarch–April, October–November
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun, in average to moist soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

acidic to neutral soil
acidicneutralalkaline
average to moistloamyhumus-richclay

Watering

at the base, not on the leavesless when it rains

Frost

−29 °C
no winter protectionleafless in winter

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

1 m2 m3 m4 m5 m6 m7 m8 m9 m10 m11 m12 m13 m14 m15 m16 m17 m18 m19 m20 m21 m22 m23 m24 m25 m26 m27 m28 m29 m30 m18–30 mspread 12–20 m
18–30 m× spread 12–20 m

Plant 12 m apart.

The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberPlanting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersPlantingFeeding
Now, in October: a good time for planting (container plant, bare-root, root-balled).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April–May · green

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: March–April, October–November; bare-root: March–April, October–November; root-balled: March–April, October–November

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June

Feeding

Nutrition.

Horn meal

up to 55 g/m² a year, if the soil needs it · May–June

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

What you will see

Shell-like bumps on shoots and the underside of leaves, sticky honeydew with black sooty mould on it; with heavy infestation, weak growth.

When to look

All year

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Keep the tree healthy; it can tolerate a light infestation.
    • Encourage ladybirds, parasitic wasps and birds.
  2. By hand when you see themRemove adult scale insects and egg masses by hand when you see them; with large numbers this is not enough.
  3. Biological only when neededFor soft scales, Steinernema feltiae nematodes are sold for a specific problem (use with caution, as they can also infect non-target animals).
Scale insectspest · all year

What you will see

Shell-like bumps on shoots and the underside of leaves, sticky honeydew with black sooty mould on it; with heavy infestation, weak growth.

When to look

All year

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Keep the tree healthy; it can tolerate a light infestation.
    • Encourage ladybirds, parasitic wasps and birds.
  2. By hand when you see themRemove adult scale insects and egg masses by hand when you see them; with large numbers this is not enough.
  3. Biological only when neededFor soft scales, Steinernema feltiae nematodes are sold for a specific problem (use with caution, as they can also infect non-target animals).
More about this problem
Sources (2)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does sweetgum flower?

In April–May; the flowers are green.

Does sweetgum tolerate shade?

No, it needs full sun.

How much space does sweetgum need?

At maturity 12–20 m wide and 18–30 m tall; recommended spacing 12 m.

Scale insects — what can you do?

Keep the tree healthy; it can tolerate a light infestation. Remove adult scale insects and egg masses by hand when you see them; with large numbers this is not enough.

Sources (17) Checked 24 October 2026

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