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American Sweetgum Liquidambar styraciflua 'Slender Silhouette'

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Liquidambar styraciflua 'Fastigiata'
Description

'Slender Silhouette' is a tall columnar cultivar of the tulip tree in the Altingiaceae family.  Its slender form makes it ideal for thin or narrow spaces.  Its columnar form makes it a great choice as a border along property lines. 

Although it is dry soil tolerant when mature, during the first year, the soil should be kept moist without overwatering.

As it matures, it will maintain its erect, uniform, columnar form, growing upwards with the top of the tree about the same width as near the bottom.

Maintenance is moderate.  If pruning is necessary to remove some straggler branches, it should be done in late winter to early spring before the tree leafs out.

It has moderate resistance to wind damage.

A 3-4" layer of mulch should be applied around the base to assist the fleshy roots in maintaining moisture as well as to moderate the temperatures.

'Slender Silhouette' produces very few of the spiny fruits that can cause messes on walkways or injury to bare feet.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  It can suffer from chlorosis of the leaves if the soil it too alkaline.   

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#specimen#native tree#salt tolerant#winter interest#fall interest#upright form#columnar#deer resistant#frost tolerant#long lifespan#vertical spaces#deciduous tree#fall color yellow#urban conditions tolerant#wet soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#fall color red#fall color orange#fall color orange-red#drought intolerant#native#fall color#erect#hardwood#narrow form#landscape plant sleuths course
 
Liquidambar styraciflua "Slender Silhouette'
Bark close up Joanne Celinski at Craven County Cooperative Extension CC-BY-SA 2.0
Liquidambar styraciflua "Slender Silhouette'
Stems Joanne Celinski at Craven County Cooperative Extension CC-BY-SA 2.0
Liquidambar styraciflua "Slender Silhouette'
Winter form Joanne Celinski at Craven County Cooperative Extension CC-BY-SA 2.0
Liquidambar styraciflua "Slender Silhouette'
Form David J. Stang CC BY-SA 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#deciduous#specimen#native tree#salt tolerant#winter interest#fall interest#upright form#columnar#deer resistant#frost tolerant#long lifespan#vertical spaces#deciduous tree#fall color yellow#urban conditions tolerant#wet soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#fall color red#fall color orange#fall color orange-red#drought intolerant#native#fall color#erect#hardwood#narrow form#landscape plant sleuths course
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Liquidambar
    Species:
    styraciflua
    Family:
    Altingiaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    Landscape
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Root Cutting
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    North America
    Play Value:
    Attracts Pollinators
    Dimensions:
    Height: 40 ft. 0 in. - 50 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
    Appendage:
    Prickles
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The fruits are a round, woody, spiky ball containing seed. They drop to the ground in the fall and can be messy.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Flower Description:
    Inconspicuous yellow-green flowers bloom in the spring.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Palmatifid
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves typically are star shaped with five points, occasionally 7 points.
  • Bark:
    Bark Color:
    Dark Brown
    Dark Gray
    Surface/Attachment:
    Furrowed
    Ridges
    Bark Description:
    The dark gray-brown bark is grooved. As the tree matures, the bark will develop deep furrows.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Gray/Silver
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    New wood is reddish-brown in color and can be covered with corky 'wings'.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Vertical Spaces
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Barrier
    Border
    Screen/Privacy
    Shade Tree
    Specimen
    Street Tree
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Dry Soil
    Salt
    Urban Conditions
    Wind
    Problems:
    Messy