Maple trees never grow sweetgum balls. The sweetgum from which its name derives is a layer of resin under the bark, which gives the tree its distinctive but non-perfumy fragrance. Not only can the roots of black walnut trees be toxic to a whole slew of annuals and perennials, their leaves can as well. Autumn is here, and that means there will soon be leaves littering the ground. I've found that it's much easier to learn to ID various trees by seeing them in the "flesh" than just by looking at field guides. var ry=Math.floor(Math.random()*myimages.length) Page created in 1.06 seconds with 40 queries. Stems often have corky and attractive wings during the second year. 1, July 2017, p. 6323. var ry=Math.floor(Math.random()*myimages2.length) Sweetgum leaves are palmate, or flat and hand-shaped, with five or sometimes seven pointed lobes with serrated edges. The Sweetgum tree is native to the southeastern United States and a member of a genus made up of only six species. imagelinks[4]="http://www.ezboardwalk.com/" Some maple varieties, such as Canyon maple, confine their range to a small area, Arizona, New Mexico and parts of southern Idaho. Fall color can be quite dramatic, with a combination of yellows, reds, and . It is not as hardy as the native species. */ Posted: February 20, 2019. Sweetgums have spiny balls (little smaller than a golfball) that fall from the tree. Do not plant near driveways or sidewalks due to the aggressive root system. Thank you for visiting the blog. Nature is full of variations; theres plenty of beauty without intent to mock us!. One thing is for sure, when it comes to composting, all leaves are not the same and that is why it is vital to know what leaves are best for composting, which should be used in moderation, and which varieties of leaves should be left out of your pile completely! They grow best in temperate climates with distinct seasons. All leaves have a tendency to bind together when left whole. //specify corresponding links below Yellow-poplar leaves are flat and slightly lobed and appear to be trimmed across the top, with two deeper lobes on either side of the midrib (the primary rib or central vein). if (ry==0) It certainly has its place, though. This toxin can make quick work of vegetable garden plants as well as many flowering annuals and perennials. Sweet gum tree related species: The Formosan sweet gum (Liquidambar formosana) is similar to the native sweet gum but with three-lobed leaves. Like the maple tree, these species have leaves whose ribs or veins radiate out from a single stalk or petiole attachment in a palmate pattern (that is, the lobes resemble a set of fingers). Sweetgum: An Ancient Source of Beneficial Compounds with Modern Benefits.Pharmacognosy Reviews, vol. Maple trees commonly have leaves with pointed lobes and with deep indentations between the lobes. All you need to do is find a tree that you can confirm as being Liquidambar Styraciflua, then crush a leaf under your nose. The leaves are star-shaped and sometimes confused with maple leaves, but careful examination shows the difference. As you will see below, one of the common denominators of good leaves versus bad leaves is their lignin level. (Zones 5-9) Thursday: 10 a.m. 5 p.m. As with hackberry, most people saddled with this garbage tree live with it because no other trees will grow there. Both trees have strong branches that are perfect for building houses and ships. . Although in the wild it's often found in damp soil, it adapts to a range of soils . on Sawmills and Milling. This tree is often overlooked in the world of deer hunting. Leaves of the mountain maple, Acer spicatum, on the other hand, have shallow lobes, more discernible in leaf veins rather than leaf shape. The seeds are dispersed by the wind, birds, or animals. The bark is dark gray and flaky when young, but it becomes furrowed with age, resembling alligator hide on very . Sweet Gums grow quite tall- 75 ft. 0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. You can also rub the leaf in question between your fingers (as long as youre sure its not poison ivy ;-)) and then smell your hands. In the fall, their leaves turn brilliant shades of yellow and red. Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. Her work focuses on wildlife, water, and general environmental education. Hard to tell which Maple from the immature leaves. The ceremonial planting of the first three trees occurred near the Flight 93 National Memorials visitor shelter and memorial walk in 2011. Sweet Gum trees present a long-lasting kaleidoscopic display in the Autumn with spectacularly brilliant colors ranging from red to purple to yellow. What are the differences between maple trees and sweetgums? The new, young leaves of Sweetgum frequently have more--rather than fewer--lobes, and have more pronounced teeth. lucky_p just because its common, opportunist and you just don't like it doesn't mean its a bad tree for the rest of us. This variant, also known as fruitless sweetgum or thornless sweetgum, produces fewer if any sweetgum balls, making it better for urban areas, though like the fruit-bearing sweetgum, it has extensive root systems that can disrupt concrete. The leaves have a similar shape, and the fall foliage color, well, that's bright and festive, just like a maple. Find high-quality stock photos that you won't find anywhere else. The larva of the Regal Moth, known as the Hickory Horned Devil can be found dining upon the leaves of the Sweet Gum. The Liquidambar genus gets its nickname from the sap the trees produce; the brown resin can be hardened to make gum. lol, the website I put up a link to describes the sweetgum seed balls as "looking like a mace weapon". In contrast, maple trees do not provide food for mammals or birds. Cat; 2007 Wood-Mizer EG200 Twin Blade Edger; Woodmaster 718 Molder/Planer; Stihl MS460 and MS362 Chainsaws; 2011 John Deere 5065 with JD 553 Loader. It grows in moist flat areas in association with pin oak or sycamore. The american sweetgum we generally see is "Liquidambar Styraciflua" to scientists. Is a sweet gun not an oxymoron? The real difference is that the Red Maple has lighter and smoother bark then the Sugar Maple. Liquidambars are well known for developing a lot of surface roots. Cannot imagine that their beauty, in an autumn-foliage- starved land such as ours would not out weigh the nuisance of their prickle balls. Maple is in the family Aceraceae while sweet gum in in the family Altingiaceae. The North American sweetgum tree, Liquidambar styraciflua, is a member of the witch-hazel, or Hamamelieaceae, family. I thought the sweetgums in my backyard as maple. The sweet gum tree, also known as American red gum, is a beautiful tree with maple-like leaves that turn spectacular shades of purple, crimson, orange and yellow in autumn. I believe the trees in the Sweet Gum Woods are the Liquidambar formosana, or the Chinese sweet gum. Here's an illustration of opposite vs alternate leaf arrangement. The deciduous leaves are maplelike in outline, with five pointed . They have nice fall color. Ta Dahere I come, cape flying, in defense of my wonderful, adored liquidambars. "The american sweetgum we generally see is "Liquidambar Styraciflua" to scientists. Because the leaves of these species can look so similar, it can be hard to tell exactly what you are looking at. In addition to the resin being sweet, the green leaves have a delightfully sweet aroma when crushed. Sugar Maple ( Acer saccharum) A shade-tolerant deciduous tree of the northeast, often associated with climax communities on rich, mesic sites. They are frequently (and inappropriately) planted here in more suburban areas as street trees and in addition to getting their crowns whacked back to avoid power lines, the roots cause frequent upheavals of the sidewalks. Red Flowering Gum Tree, named for its scarlet red . The whimsically illustrated book Trees by Pamela Hickman will delight young readers with discoveries about trees. I've been looking at trees so long, I can just glance at them out the corner of my eye and tell what they are - except nyssas, that is! Even more, lignin has a significant impact to the nitrogen levels in your finished compost, and the soil you will use your compost in. Bark is brown to gray, very rough with . Because of this, they can take much longer to break down when used in large quantities. Hence, the longer it will take to break down in a compost pile. If you have fruit in-hand, telling them apart is a breeze. However, they were identified as sweetgums. Grows 60'-70', with a 45' spread. I looked at dozens of descriptions, pictures and measurements before learning that Sweetgum has a distinct smell. Add them in moderation to piles, always being sure to shred them as finely as possible to speed decomposition. Not only are they bountiful, they are loaded with nutrients. Back again.making multi-colored sawdust. Maples constitute one of the most important groups of ornamentals for planting in lawns, along streets, and in parks. A million members, donors, and partners support our programs to make our world greener and healthier. It may be a function of soil type/compaction, etc., but every sweetgum I've ever encountered in a residential yard situation threw up huge, obtrusive roots projecting well above the soil surface.I've seen literally millions of the invasive natives growing wild in the woodlands of my native AL, and didn't necessarily notice the surface roots so much there, though now that I think about it, even out in the woods, those above soil-surface roots were pretty prominent. The fruit matures in late summer and persists through the fall/winter. Random Image Link Script- By JavaScript Kit(http://www.javascriptkit.com) The leaf stalk and twigs also have a reddish color. Leaves are actually one of the best resources around for gardeners. This is due in part to the oak leaves higher levels of lignin. function random_imglink2(){ Lara Milligan is the Natural Resources Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County. In addition, oak leaves fall on the acidic side of the spectrum. In fact, they are among the fastest of all leaves to completely incorporate into a compost pile. Chang's sweetgum leaves look like maple tree leaves and measure between 3" and 6" (7.5 - 15 cm) across. Fall Leaves. Lemon Scented Gum Tree, its strong lemon scent repels insects. underside. I've read that both maples and sweetgums can develop extensive roots through decades. . The American sweetgum grows to a height of 6075' and a spread of 4050' at maturity. Examine the leaves of the tree. Sweetgum seed delivery involves 1-to-1 1/4-inch-sized balls containing many individual fruits, ending in sharp-pronged points and each containing one or two long-winged seeds. Updated: 00/04/25 Red maple leaves are green on the top and a light greenish white on the underside, and turn brilliant red in autumn. If the leaves are opposite each other on the branch, you have a maple. The green spiny fruit clusters become dry and brown during the late Summer. The wood of sweetgum trees is used in the production of plywood and veneer, while the sap, leaves, and bark have shown potential in medicinal applications. myimages[4]="../../../images/top-banner/ez50-banner.jpg" Maple varieties are far more territorial. Todays comparison focuses on how to tell apart red maple (Acer rubrum) from sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). Moraine sweet-gum (Liquidambar styraciflua 'Moriane'): . By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Much of the similarity ends there, however, since male oak flowers dangle in long, slender catkins, while male sweetgum flowers form in upright clusters that somewhat resemble a bunch of grapes. Black maple leaves have three lobes, while sugar maples have the traditional five lobes. And now, you can go on with your life knowing that you'll always be able to tell the difference between a baby Maple tree and Sweetgum. Pro: The wood has many uses, including flooring, lumber, and paper pulp among other things. Sweetgum is native throughout Kentucky, except the Bluegrass. He/she thanked people for their help. Examine the bark. The sap from a maple tree is sticky and can be used to make ink; it also has a strong sugar content. The sweet gum resembles a maple tree, and in the summer, the star-shaped leaves and sturdy trunk are impressive, if easily overlooked. Although native to eastern North America, it is widely planted throughout the continent in its range. Learn how different trees grow through the seasons, obtain tips on tree identification, and gain an understanding of how vital trees are to the environment. Houzz utilise des cookies et d'autres technologies de suivi similaires pour personnaliser mon exprience utilisateur, me proposer du contenu pertinent et amliorer ses produits et services. Call Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for experienced tree removal service in Indianapolis and throughout Central Indiana. Maple leaves turn a variety of colors in the fall, ranging from reds to yellows, oranges and browns. Fruit tree leaves have good levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Sweetgum bark, leaves, and seeds contain shikimic acid, which has been studied for its antiviral properties. The trident maple's leaves turn yellow, orange or reddish in the fall. Known as one of the largest caterpillars in North America it can grow to the size of a hotdog. I have several baby sweetgums. Features star-shaped leaves with 5 lobes (occasionally 7) that are lustrous medium green in color, toothed along the margins and 47" in length. Although they can be composted, they should be used in moderation. Description of sweet gum tree: The sweet gum has a pyramidal habit when young, eventually becoming rounded and tall -- up to more than 100 feet. Once commercially popular for soaps, adhesives and pharmaceuticals, today its wood is valuable for fine furniture and interior finishing. How To Overwinter Mums The Simple Secrets To Saving Hardy Mums! Bark is brown to gray, very rough with deep grooves and narrow, slightly scaly ridges. All of these are well balanced in their nutrients. 5. Their fall color lasts much longer than most other trees. Examine the leaf. This leaf is borne on corky-winged limbs, and the fruit is a conspicuous spiked ball that grows in clusters. The tree is not toxic to dogs and cats, but the seedpods do present a different type of health threat if your pet were to step on one. Zacchaeus then ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree along Jesuss path. var myimages2=new Array() Their leaves are also soft to the touch and have a distinctive smell. Woodmizer LT40HDD35, John Deere 2155, Kubota M5-111, Kubota L2501, Nyle L53 Dehumidification Kiln, and a passion for all things with leafs, twigs, and bark. They also produce delicious sweets that humans enjoy!. So far, he's only become a doctor. Mature leaves are 4 to 7 inches (10 to 18 cm.)