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Liquidambar styraciflua 'Rotundiloba' is often confused with:
Liquidambar styraciflua Fall foliage
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Quercus nigra Quercus nigra
Tilia americana Tilia americana
Ulmus americana Full Form

Fruitless Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua 'Rotundiloba'

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
lih-kwid-AM-ber sty-ris-IH-floo-uh
Description

Sweetgum ‘Rotundiloba’ is a woody, deciduous tree in the Sweetgum family (Altingiaceae). It was introduced by J. C. Raulston in 1997 and is distinguished by a lack of the spiny, messy “gumball” fruits its parent plant is known for.

This tree will grow 60 to 75 feet tall and spread 20- 40 feet wide with a open pyramidal shape. Fruitless sweetgum requires full sun to partial shade and acidic, well-drained soil. It is not as cold-hardy as the species but is moderately drought and salt-tolerant.

Showy fall foliage can be an array of colors from golden yellow to purple to burgundy reds. Its bark has the corky projections characteristic of sweetgum.

A shade or street tree is a good use for this plant as well as a specimen in a lawn. Avoid placing it near driveways or sidewalks due to its aggressive root system.

VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

More information on Liquidambar styraciflua.

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See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#purple leaves#fall interest#moist soil#well-drained soil#acidic soils tolerant#fantz#deciduous tree#urban conditions tolerant#sandy soils tolerant#loamy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#partial shade tolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#shade tree#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#purple leaves#fall interest#moist soil#well-drained soil#acidic soils tolerant#fantz#deciduous tree#urban conditions tolerant#sandy soils tolerant#loamy soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#partial shade tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Liquidambar
    Species:
    styraciflua
    Family:
    Altingiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Dimensions:
    Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Open
    Pyramidal
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    Rarely produces fruit
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    Rarely blooms
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Palmatifid
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    4-8 inch wide and long star-shaped leaves are alternate, simple and entire with palmate venation. The 5-lobes are rounded at the tips. Fall color is variable and can be yellow to reds.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Furrowed
    Bark Description:
    The gray-brown bark is deeply furrowed
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Surface:
    Corky Ridges
    Stem Description:
    Branches are covered with characteristic corky projections.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Design Feature:
    Shade Tree
    Specimen
    Street Tree
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Salt