November Plant of the Month
November fireworks are what you get with a Sweet Gum tree – Liquidambar styraciflua. Even if the wind and rain have stripped the tree of its glorious foliage (as has just happened here) the carpet of leaves left behind is worth leaving on the ground a while as it’s one of the best trees for autumn leaf colour. As temperatures fall, its large, maple-like leaves turn from green to glowing shades of orange, red, yellow, or purple.
The species is tall-growing and needs plenty of space to grow – ultimate height ranges from 10m to more than 20m, with trees taking around 15-20 years to mature. However, in smaller gardens I have used the narrow variety ‘Slender Silhouette’ to good effect. It forms a tight column 1 -1.5m wide with an eventual height about 6m.
Easy to grow in sun or part shade and prefers a free draining soil.
