Chinese Sweetgum
 

Mature Size, Growth, Longevity

Landscape size is 30-50', with a spread of 20-30'. Growth habit is pyramidal in youth, becoming oblong-rounded at maturity. A medium-fast grower with excellent vigor. Upright, pyramidal-conical to oblong-rounded form/habit.

Native Range

Native to mountainous forests in southern China.

Flower and Fruit Details

Monoecious, yellow-green flowers in clusters, not showy, in April-May. The spiny, aggregate fruits, sometimes called "gum balls", are a mace-like syncarp of 15-26 dehiscent capsules, 1-1.5" diameter, w/ brown, winged seeds inside, persisting into winter, dropping sporatically, often causing a litter problem.

Leaf and Bark Features

Deciduous: New leaves emerge reddish-maroon to burgundy in color, changing to dark green, then burgundy/red/purple in the fall. Leaves are 3-6" wide, w/ 3 equal-sized, pointed lobes, much resembling the Formosan Sweetgum. Creosote-like smell when leaves are crushed.

Culture and Care

Avoid shade and alkaline soils. Needs full sun. Prefers deep, moist, acid, well-drained soils, but actually tolerates most soils, if acid. Drought-tolerant once established. Can tolerate short-term flooding once established. Zone 6-8. Cold-hardy to -10 degrees F. No serious insect or disease problems. Possibilities include bagworms, borers, scale, caterpillars, leaf miners, webworms, canker, bleeding necrosis, leaf spots, wood rot and iron chlorosis (in high pH soils).

Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts

3-season interest: Spring, summer and fall. Goldfinches and other songbirds enjoy the seeds within the fruit capsule in the fall and winter. Tolerates deer. Genus name means "liquid amber" (fragrant resin). Common name refers to the aromatic sweet balsam or gum that exudes from wounds to the tree.

Suggested Uses

Makes a good shade tree, lawn or park tree. Street tree use should be limited to fruitless male cultivars, if available.

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA