Sweet Gum Palo Alto

Liquidambar styraciflua 'Palo Alto', named after the Californian city where it was first discovered, combines the striking autumn colour Sweet Gums are known for with the distinctive fissured, corky bark of its parent, a feature that has been bred out of some other cultivars.

Forming a neat, conical to pyramidal tree, it has glossy, maple-like foliage that provides reliable orange-red autumn colour over a long period. It makes an excellent choice for avenue planting or as a specimen tree where its autumn display can be fully appreciated.

Spiky brown fruits, which are actually seed pods, are produced from summer and may remain on the tree after the leaves have fallen, providing additional seasonal interest.

It grows well in moist but free-draining, moderately fertile soils ranging from neutral to acidic, in full sun or partial shade. The best autumn colour is usually achieved in full sun and on soils that lean towards acidic. It develops a spread of more than 8m, so should be given plenty of room to mature.

Mature height: up to 20m

Common names

Sweet Gum Palo Alto

Height of tree

12-17m

Soil type

AcidicWell drained

Shape

Oval

Blossom Colour

Yellow

Looks good in

Autumn

Location

Garden

Genus

Liquidambar

Autumn Colour

Yes