Liquidambar styraciflua 'GUM BALL' sweetgum
size/type
medium-sized shrub,small tree
usual height
2-3m
usual width
1,5-2m
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 5-lobed leaves they are often mistaken for maples. However, leaves of sweetgum are more star-shaped and usually smaller. The most spectacular show begins in autumn when they turn all sorts of vivid colours. They fall down late, throughout winter and the tree is decorated with fruits, which are small, spiny spheres.
Description of the plant:
If you like sweetgum and you are afraid of its size in maturity try this one. Gum Ball is a great variety with dwarf growth and reduced size. After 10 years it can grow to some 2.5m with a total of 3m in maturity. Its crown is quite regular even without pruning. The leaves are identical to basic sweetgum: deep green in the summer, with 5 lobes, deeply cut, in the autumn they change to dark red and deep burgundy, almost black. The bark is grey with striking ribs that appear as the tree grows older.
It likes any fertile to mid-fertile soil, preferably acidic and moist. Fully hardy to -29°C (USDA zone 5).
Last update 12-02-2008.
SIZES and PRICES
standard
height of stem 200-220 cm, girth 8-10 cm, crown width 50-60 cm
5 490 Kè
height of stem 100-120 cm, crown width 60-70 cm
5 100 Kè
height of stem 160-170 cm, crown width 60-80 cm
5 690 Kè
height of stem 200-220 cm, girth 10-12 cm, crown width 60-80 cm
6 380 Kè
height of stem 190- 200 cm, girth 10-12 cm, crown width 70-90 cm
6 650 Kè
WANT TO TRY A SIMILAR PLANT?
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GLOSSARY
- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
