American Liquidambar
Liquidambar styraciflua · Deciduous Broadleaf Hardwood
Plant Family
Altingiaceae
Tree Category
Shade Tree / Ornamental / Timber Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Not identifiable from distance
Hardiness Zones
5 through 9
About This Tree
Large, stately tree with a distinctive upright, pyramidal crown when young, becoming more rounded or oval with age. Features star-shaped foliage and spiky fruit.
Leaf Characteristics
Alternate, palmately lobed with 5-7 pointed lobes (star-shaped). Leaves are glossy green in summer, turning brilliant shades of yellow, orange, red, and purple in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Grey-brown and deeply furrowed into narrow, corky ridges on mature trees; stems often have unique 'winged' corky ridges.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Southeastern United States, Mexico, and Central America
Growing Season
Bud break in early spring; flowers in mid-spring; fruits mature in autumn; dormant in winter
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full Sun (6+ hours); prefers moist, slightly acidic, well-drained soils; moderate drought tolerance once established.
Mature Size
60–100 feet tall with a spread of 40–50 feet; fast growth rate; can live over 150 years.
Special Characteristics
Renowned for exceptional autumn color; produces 'gumballs' (spiky seed pods); high timber value for furniture and veneer; resin used historically for medicinal purposes.
Wildlife & Ecology
Seeds are a food source for finches, squirrels, and chipmunks; provides nesting sites for birds; host plant for the Luna Moth caterpillar.