American Sweetgum
Liquidambar styraciflua
American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 50–70 ft tall and 30–50 ft wide, needs medium water, and prefers full sun. Sweetgum prefers acidic, moist soil, chlorosis and slow growth are common here.
medium water50–70 ft tall and 30–50 ft wideDeer-resistant
Photos
- Photo 1: no rights reserved
- Photo 2: no rights reserved
- Photo 3: (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5–9
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- clay, loam
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.0
- Hail tolerance
- low
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 50–70 ft tall and 30–50 ft wide
- Mature form
- Pyramidal
- Spacing / clearance
- ~50 ft of clearance
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- Medium
What it looks like, and when
- Foliage
- Deciduous
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- moderate
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- No
Site factors to consider
- Critical: Soil ChemistryIt wants soil on the acid side, but ours runs alkaline, so it yellows between green veins from iron chlorosis and needs treatment to hold color.
- Critical: Soil TextureThe catch is drainage, not the dirt itself; it takes our clay only where water moves through, so avoid low spots and soggy ground.
- Critical: Cold HardinessHardy most winters but marginal in our cold pockets, so give it a protected spot and expect the odd year of winter dieback.
Frequently asked questions
- Is American Sweetgum good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, American Sweetgum is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Conditionally Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- Why is American Sweetgum only conditionally recommended on the Front Range?
- The main catches here: It wants soil on the acid side, but ours runs alkaline, so it yellows between green veins from iron chlorosis and needs treatment to hold color. The catch is drainage, not the dirt itself; it takes our clay only where water moves through, so avoid low spots and soggy ground. Hardy most winters but marginal in our cold pockets, so give it a protected spot and expect the odd year of winter dieback.
- How big does American Sweetgum get?
- It matures to about 50–70 ft tall and 30–50 ft wide.
- How much room does American Sweetgum need?
- Give American Sweetgum about 50 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does American Sweetgum grow into?
- American Sweetgum typically grows into a pyramidal, conical outline that is widest at the base. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is American Sweetgum hardy on the Front Range?
- American Sweetgum is hardy in USDA 5–9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is at its cold edge here. Site it in a warm microclimate and protect young plants. That said, it carries a cold-hardiness caution: Hardy most winters but marginal in our cold pockets, so give it a protected spot and expect the odd year of winter dieback.
- How much water does American Sweetgum need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- How fast does American Sweetgum grow?
- American Sweetgum is a moderate-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does American Sweetgum live?
- American Sweetgum has a moderate lifespan for a Front Range tree. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- Is American Sweetgum native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is American Sweetgum deer-resistant?
- American Sweetgum is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
