TREE OF THE MONTH
Photos provided by J. Frank Schmidt & Son Co. By Len Phillips , ASLA Emeritus
Trade Name: Rotundiloba (Roundleaf) Sweetgum Botanical Name: Liquidambar styraciflua 'Rotundiloba' Family: Hamamelidaceae Parentage: Discovered in wild of North Carolina in 1930 Year of Introduction: 1982 Height: 50 to 75 feet Spread: 35 to 50 feet Form: Narrow pyramidal Flower: Green to yellow Fruit: None, seedless Foliage: Rounded lobes Spring Color: Mid green Summer Foliage: Bright green Autumn Foliage: Yellow, orange, purple, and red Winter Color: Interest in bark and form Bark: Covered with characteristic
26 Arbor Age / October 2012
corky projections, thornless Habitat: North America except upper Midwest and Rocky Mountains Culture: Well drained soil, acidic is best, moderate drought and flood tolerance Site Requirements: Full sun to part shade Hardiness Zone*: 5–10 Growth Rate: Fast, 2 to 3 feet per year Pest Resistance: Pest free but hosts non-damaging insects Storm Resistance: Excellent Salt Resistance: Moderate Planting: Transplant B&B or container only when tree is young Pruning: Prune for clearance and single leader Propagating: Budding, grafting, softwood cuttings in summer
Design Uses: Useful in wide planting areas, parking lots, open spaces, highway medians Companions: Shallow roots so mulch is best companion Other Comments: The only Sweetgum known to be totally seedless, surface roots can lift sidewalks Available From: Select nurseries, may require some searching
* For information about the USDA Hardiness Zone Map, visit: www.usna.usda.gov/Hardzone/ index.html
These are the personal observations of the author, living in New England — Zone 5b. Len Phillips can be reached via e-mail at lenphillips@on-line-seminars.com.
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