Liquidambar acalycina Chinese sweetgum
size/type
medium-sized tree,medium-sized tree
usual height
5-8m
usual width
2-4m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
insignificant or non-blooming
location
full to partial sun
USDA zone (lowest)
5b (down to -27°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Sweetgums are very popular trees from the USA. Thanks to the leaf shape they are often mistaken for maples. However, leaves of sweet gum are more star-shaped and usually smaller. They fall down late, throughout winter and the tree is decorated with fruits, which are small, spiny spheres.
Description of the plant:
Acalycina is a fantastic, unique species of sweet gum with only 3-lobed, deciduous leaves. If you look from up close you will notice further 2 lobes but they are so tiny that do not spoil the effect of large, 3-lobed leaves. The foliage emerges burgundy brown in spring and the leaves at the ends of the branches remain coppery red throughout the season if planted in full sun while inner leaves closer to the trunk are dark green. This bicolour effect makes this tree very attractive in a subtle way. Autumn colour is coppery orange to burgundy red. Acalycina is a slow or moderately growing mid-sized tree, forming a narrowly pyramidal shape with a somewhat oval crown when mature. It likes any fertile to mid-fertile soil, preferably acid and moist but well drained. When established it can take temporary flooding. Fully hardy to -27°C (USDA zone 5b).
Last update 23-02-2010
