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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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.
- 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:
- Altingiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- 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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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- Rarely produces fruit
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- Rarely blooms
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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 Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- 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
