Liquidambar orientalis (Oriental Sweet Gum)
A small variety of Sweet Gum that forms a dense oval-shaped crown, and has a grooved grey trunk. In maturity, its twigs will develop corky wings. The 5-lobed leaves are wider but smaller than the more common Liquidambar styraciflua, and turn a stunning red in the Autumn.
Ultimate height 10m (32ft), Spread 8m (26ft).
Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweet Gum)
One of the most beautiful trees in Autumn, producing a display of colours from golden yellows through firey oranges, to deep wine reds, and almost violet in humid conditions. In its youth, this tree shows a more narrow pyramid shape, but spreads and widens its crown as it matures. Twigs and branches are corky and deeply grooved. This tree is best suited to planting where space allows it and does best in fertile, well drained soils. Although it will tolerate most soil conditions, it does not thrive in chalky soils.
Ultimate height 25m (82ft), Spread 18m (60ft).
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Andrew Hewson’
Smaller than the common Sweet Gum, but with larger and more deeply incised leaves. The 5- and 7-lobed leaves turn spectacular colours in Autumn, with shades of yellow and orange, wine red and purple. Spikey fruit capsules remain on the tree well into winter.
Ultimate height 15m (49ft), Spread 10m (33ft).
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Burgundy’
A medium to large tree that closely resembles the common Sweet Gum, but is distinguished most notably by its exceptional purple and wine-red Autumnal colours. In youth, this tree is narrowly pyramidal in shape, but spreads and widens as it matures. Older branches develop thick grey corky grooves. Specimens grown in fertile, damp soil in full sun will colour best, although these trees will thrive in all but the chalkiest of soils.
Ultimate height 20m (66ft), Spread 13m (42ft).
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Festival’
A medium to large tree that bears a strong resemblance to the common Sweet Gum, but is distinguished most notably by its narrow pyramidal crown shape that remains so into maturity. It is relatively fast growing by Liquidambar standards, especially in its younger years. Stunning Autumn colour passes from yellow through orange to deep reddish purple.
Ultimate height 20m (66ft), Spread 8m (26ft).
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Golden Treasure’
A slow growing and relatively small variety of Sweet Gum, with a 5 lobed variegated leaf. Shades of golden yellow on the outer margin and rich green on the inner leaf provide interest from Spring through Summer, until the leaves turn to shades of red, orange and deep pink in Autumn. Versatile and suitable for a smaller garden, Liquidambar styraciflua Golden Treasure prefers lime-free, well-drained soil, but will tolerate most conditions.
Ultimate height 10m (33ft), Spread 5m (16ft).
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Gum Ball’
A densely branching, mop-headed tree that we grow as a 1/2 standard, top grafted with a 120cm trunk. The grey bark has shallow grooves, and young twigs are a light green colour with few or no corky fissures. Glossy green leaves turn to shades of yellow in late Autumn. A good choice for a small garden, and tolerant of all but the chalkiest of soils.
Ultimate height 3m (10ft), Spread 3m (10ft).
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Lane Roberts’
A medium to large Sweet Gum known for its marvellously rich crimson, almost black, Autumn leaves. Wine red and yellow hues mingle to produce a display that has been described as glowing like the embers of a fire. Specimens grown in fertile, damp soil in full sun will colour best, although these trees will thrive in all but the chalkiest of soils.
Ultimate height 15m (49ft), Spread 12m (40ft).
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Paarl’
An upright form of the Sweet Gum, with dark green leaves that turn to deep oranges and yellows late in the Autumn. As with all varieties of Sweet Gum, ‘Paarl’ grows well in moist, well-drained soil; and whilst it will tolerate all but the chalkiest of locations, acidic or neutral soil types will produce the best Autumn colour.
Ultimate height 18m (60ft), Spread 6m (20ft).
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Parasol’
A small and slow growing form of the Sweet Gum, with a nice rounded head when mature. The leaves are deeply divided and serrated, turning shades of yellow, apricot and orange in autumn. A good choice for a small garden, and tolerant of all but the chalkiest of soils.
Ultimate height 6m (20ft), Spread 4m (13ft).
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Pendula’ (Weeping Sweet Gum)
An elegant weeping form of the Sweet Gum which grows into a small spreading tree; once established, it will develop a thick, ornamental, corky bark. Dark green leaves in Spring and Summer turn to a stunning display of reds, oranges and yellows in Autumn. It prefers lime-free, well-drained soil, but will tolerate most conditions.
Ultimate height 6m (20ft), Spread 6m (20ft).
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Silver King’ (Variegated Sweet Gum)
A striking variety of Sweet Gum, planted for its attractively variegated star-shaped foliage. Dark glossy green leaves are edged with a cream border which turns to a bright pink in Autumn. Deeply grooved bark provides added interest in the garden, and coupled with the pink and purple Autumn colour, this makes a wonderful specimen tree.
Ultimate height 15m (49ft), Spread 8m (26ft).
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’
A medium-sized Sweet Gum with an exceptionally narrow crown remaining slender even when mature. The upright branches and twigs form a tight column, and do not exhibit the corky fissures of other varieties. Autumn colour is primarily limited to oranges and yellows, and will be more reliable on acidic and neutral soils, although the tree with tolerate all but the chalkiest of conditions. An excellent choice for areas with limited space.
Ultimate height 15m (49ft), Spread 2m (6ft).
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Stared’
A medium-sized tree with a narrow pyramidal crown, densely branched even when mature. Glossy green, 7-lobed leaves are deeply cut and conspicuously star-shaped, emerging reddish when young and turning to orange, red, and deep purple in the Autumn. As with all varieties of Sweet Gum, ‘Stared’ grows well in moist, well-drained soil; and whilst it will tolerate all but the chalkiest of locations, acidic or neutral soil types will produce the best Autumn colour.
Ultimate height 18m (60ft), Spread 12m (40ft).
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Stella’
A good medium-sized tree with distinctive deeply cut, star shaped leaves. Glossy green foliage turns to dramatic shades of purple and rich red for several weeks before falling in Autumn. Although preferring moist fertile soil, ‘Stella’ will grow well in most areas, but will produce its most bright and vivid Autumn colour in lime free or acidic soils.
Ultimate height 18m (60ft), Spread 12m (40ft).
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Thea’
A lovely broad-leaved Sweet Gum, with a good conical form and distinctive deep purple and red Autumn colour. Similar in many respects to Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Lane Roberts’, and exhibiting similar foliage colour, ‘Thea’ will ultimately be slightly taller. It prefers lime-free, well-drained soil, but will tolerate most conditions.
Ultimate height 18m (60ft), Spread 12m (40ft).
Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’
A handsome and extremely reliable Sweet Gum, perfectly suited to the British climate, having no problems with cold and extreme rainfall. When young, the tree is fairly narrow, but as it matures the branches grow out more widely so the crown becomes a broad pyramid. Autumn colour appears from September and lasts through into November, putting on a dramatic show of golden yellows, firey oranges, and startling reds. It will thrive on most free draining soils and is the toughest of the Liquidambar range for our climate.
Ultimate height 18m (60ft), Spread 12m (40ft).
Planting Guide
For further details and pricing, please download our .PDF catalogue using the link below:-
Landford Catalogue 2018.pdf (.PDF file, 259 KB)