Thornless Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua 'Rotundiloba'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- lih-kwid-AM-ber sty-ris-IH-floo-uh
- Description
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J.C. Raulston introduced the Fruitless Sweetgum tree in 1997. Unlike its parent, it doesn't produce or rarely produces those spiny, messy "gumball" fruits. It also grows slower and has a more open pyramidal shape. The leaves have the same 5 lobes but the tips are rounded rather than pointed. It is not as hardy as some of the species.
Fruitless Sweetgum requires full sun to partial shade. It tolerates sand, loam, clay, acidic, and well-drained soils. It has moderate drought and salt tolerance. It can grow to 75 feet with a 40-foot spread.
The leaves of the Fruitless Sweetgum turn deep purple in the fall (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7) and early winter (USDA hardiness zones 8 and 9). It is native to the southeastern US.
Use as a campus or park tree, shade or large lawn tree. Do not plant near driveways or sidewalks due to the aggressive root system.
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Liquidambar
- Species:
- styraciflua
- Family:
- Hamamelidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern US
- Distribution:
- Southeastern Us
- Dimensions:
- Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 75 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Open
- Pyramidal
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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
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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.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Furrowed
- Bark Description:
- The gray-brown bark is deeply furrowed
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Corky Ridges
- Stem Description:
- Branches are covered with characteristic corky projections.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Specimen
- Street Tree
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Salt
