Carolina Nature

Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

Plantae>Magnoliophyta>Magnoliopsida>Saxifragales>Altingiaceae>Liquidambar styraciflua L.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) leaves

Sweetgum is one of our most common and familiar trees in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of North Carolina, with distinctive star-shaped leaves and spiky ball-shaped fruits.

Wake Co., NC 5/6/2012.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) leaves

Person Co., NC 6/10/2009.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) leaves

Sweetgum is rare in the Mountain region, where it is found in lower elevations, such as here along the French Broad River.

Madison Co., NC 4/9/2012.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) leaves

Madison Co., NC 4/9/2012.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) leaves

The star-shaped leaves, which are alternate and deciduous, have a pleasant, sweet fragrance when crushed.

This early successional tree often associates with Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera).

Durham Co., NC 9/10/02.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) fall leaves

Sweetgum leaves turn a spectacular range of colors in the fall, from bright yellow to purplish-black.

Chapel Hill, NC 11/13/05.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) flowers

Male inflorescence (above) with expanding female inflorescence and old fruit ball from last year hanging below .

Durham, NC 3/28/07.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) female flowers

Ripening fruits.

Sweetgum is rare in the Mountain province of North Carolina, growing at lower elevations along rivers.

French Broad River, Madison Co., NC 5/11/08.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) balls

The spiky ball fruits are unique.

Durham Co., NC 12/4/05.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) corky wings

Twigs often (but not always) have corky wings.

Durham Co., NC 9/10/02.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) bark

Bark of young trees is mostly smooth but often has warty projections.

Durham Co., NC 9/10/02.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) bark

Bark of a medium-sized tree.

Orange Co., NC 9/20/02.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) bark

Bark of a medium-sized tree.

Durham, NC 3/28/07.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) bark

Bark of a large tree. The bark becomes more ridged with maturity.

Durham Co., NC 12/4/05.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) tree

Large tree.

Liquidambar was traditionally placed in the Hamamelidaceae, but molecular studies have shown that Liquidambar isn't closely related to Hamamelis and is better placed in the Altingiaceae.

Durham Co., NC 12/4/05.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) bark

Some more bark shots, showing the variation in the corky projections found on your trees.

Orange Co., NC 3/20/10.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) bark

Orange Co., NC 3/20/10.

Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) bark

Orange Co., NC 3/20/10.

More information:
NC State Fact Sheet
Silvics Manual
Virginia Tech Dendrology
USDA PLANTS

Recommended Tree, Shrub, and Woody Vine Identification Guides