Liquidambar styraciflua 'GOLDEN TREASURE' sweetgum
size/type
taller shrub,taller shrub
usual height
3-6m
usual width
2-4m
leaves
deciduous broadleaf
colour of leaves
flowers
insignificant or non-blooming
location
full sun
USDA zone (lowest)
5 (down to -29°C)
winter protection
for zone 5+6
for zone 7
categorized
Sweetgums are highly ornamental trees or shrubs which have been on top of the popularity list for centuries. These come from North America from where they spread to nearly whole world: from colder parts of temperate regions to southern countries where summer temperatures easily reach 40°C. Their give-away are star-shaped leaves which can easily be mistaken for maple leaves, and their autumn colours which are simply breathtaking.
Description of the plant:
Golden Treasure is an outstanding variety of sweetgum with conspicuous variegation. Deciduous leaves of this small tree are 5-lobed with rich yellow margins and irregular mottling of light and dark green shades in the centre. In autumn they turn orange, pink and red. Same as other variegated forms Golden Treasure, too, is a slow grower making about 4-5m tall and 2-3m wide shrub or small tree in Central European conditions (zone 6), whereas in countries with warmer winters it can achieve almost twice as much in full maturity.Its natural shape is pyramidal but can be clipped or trimmed in early spring to be kept smaller and in desired form. Once you give it a shape it does not usually go wild to spoil it for a long time. Another nice feature is the fruit. Formed in about 3 cm wide spiny spheres they can be quite attractive to look at and a bit irritating when stepped on barefoot once they have hardened up, if not cleared from pavements or lawns in spring.
Sweet gums are soil tolerant but prefer semi-fertile, deep, evenly moist but well-drained soil that should be acidic or at least neutral. It will not thrive on chalk or lime. Once established they can take both temporary flooding and drought. The more acidic and moist soil you can provide (by adding peat and mulching the roots with bark) the better autumn colours can be expected. The location should be sunny as it does not tolerate shaded areas. If you buy a plant taller than say 1.5m stake it well for minimum of 2 or rather 3 years. Plants older than 3 years are fully hardy to about -27°C (USDA zone 5).
Last update 13-2-2012
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