Step 1
The American sweetgum tree reaches 60 to 70 feet at full matureness , with a 45 - metrical foot spread . It grows in an oval , somewhat pyramidal bod . The star - shaped , glossy green leaves have a pleasant olfactory sensation if squeeze . The sweetgum is spectacular in autumn , with leave-taking turning orangish and fire - Marxist before falling . Yellowish - green flowers develop in late give and are not peculiarly showy . The classifiable viscous ball seedpods get down off unripe , turning hard and brown before dropping off the tree through fall and winter .
Care
The sweetgum is stalwart through USDA zone 5 to 9 . It grows good in full sunshine , although it can tolerate filtered shade . It prefers moist , well - drained soil . It grows quickly and is usually quite hardy . If allow for to fruit , you will demand to spend considerable sentence rake up the prickly seedpods , which will blanket the ground ; if step on barefoot , they can induce a painful wound .
Step 2
Uses
Furniture , trim , facing and cabinet are made from sweetgum ’s ruby brown heartwood , and its pulp is used to make paper . According to Floridata , the wood sometimes is sell as Italian mahogany or satin walnut . The sap can even be used to flavor chewing gum . Despite the annoying seedpods , sweetgum is widely set as an ornamental shade Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , value for its outstanding fall color . The seedpods pull in many boo and small animals , and are a particular favorite of jaundiced - bellied sapsucker .
Seed Ball Prevention
According to West Virginia University , a trademarked nebuliser cry Florel Fruit Eliminator , parcel out by the Monterey Chemical Company , prevent the growth of the sweetgum ’s seedpod . Apply the spray when the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree has produced prime , but before they get going to explicate into seedpods . If you spray the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree thoroughly during the brief window between flowering and pod yield , the spray is effective in preventing yield production . you’re able to find Florel Fruit Eliminator at garden substance or nurseries .
References
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