If that isn't enough, the spiny fruits have been known to cause people to slip and turn an ankle. The prickly fruits are called gumballs, goblin balls, monkey balls and a number of other colorful names. Other folks dislike the tree because it doesn't make good firewood, since it is difficult to split and rots quickly.
Sweet gum roots are highly invasive, often growing near the soil surface and damaging sidewalks, pavements, and other infrastructure. The species also produces prolific hard, round fruits that litter the ground and are often a tripping hazard. Sweet gum trees have attractive fall foliage. Sweet gum fruits.
Sweet gum trees have brittle limbs that break and fall unexpectedly. The Sudden Branch Drop Syndrome causes tree branches to fall suddenly during hot months, even in low wind conditions. There are also theories that the tree rapidly cuts the water supply to a limb, leading to limb drop.
Sweet gums, often called “gumball” trees, are a nuisance because they annually drop hundreds of round, prickly seed capsules that can be easy to slip on when walking and are difficult to clean up.
Gum tree disease is usually bacterial or fungal. They include myrtle rust, teratosphaeria disease, cankers, phytophthora, heart or trunk rot, and bacterial root rot. Most of these diseases first show up in the leaves or by discoloring the leaves or bark. You may also see a powdery mildew on the trees.
Sweetgum wood is used to make veneer, plywood, cabinets and furniture. The gum from these trees has been used as chewing gum and even employed to concoct medicines and salves to cure a variety of ailments, treat wounds and serve as an important ingredient in adhesives.
“While there is a risk of falling branches associated with some large old gum trees, their magic and value to people and wildlife alike is undeniable. “Even without sitting directly underneath them, we all enjoy the benefits of their beauty, interest, shade, and shelter.
The Sweetgum tree is a safe choice for dog-friendly homes. It is not listed as toxic by major pet poison control centers or veterinary organizations, which is a relief for pet owners.
Most of the imazapyr based herbicides do a great job of killing sweetgum trees!
Get to know your tree:
Twigs often have corky wings. Flowers are clustered in small greenish-yellow or reddish balls. Fruits are woody balls consisting of pointed capsules, hang on long stalks, and often persist through winter.
In addition to the sap, the leaves, bark, and seeds of sweetgum also possess beneficial compounds such as shikimic acid, a precursor to the production of oseltamivir phosphate, the active ingredient in Tamiflu®–an antiviral drug effective against several influenza viruses.
Liquidambar styraciflua, Sweetgum has been used as a street / urban tree for a number of years. It has dark green foliage that can turn yellow, orange, and red in the fall. The seed pods can sometimes be a problem. There are several really good cultivars.
If you're up for some experimenting, sweet gum balls can be used to make a tea from boiling the young green seeds. The resulting decoction is known for its antiviral properties and can be used as a preventative measure against sickness, or as a remedy for the flu (consult your doctor if symptoms persist).
Sweetgum is a relatively hard, uniform grained wood previously used for furniture and plywood. It tends to warp and stain easily. It is low valued and currently rarely used, except for industrial blocking and pallets.
Sweet Gum Tree Removal
Homeowners may pay anywhere from $700 to $1,500, depending on the roots. With star-shaped leaves and stunning fall colors, the sweet gum is considered a medium to large tree. Enjoying full sun, the sweet gum cannot tolerate pollution.
These are unrelated trees that are called gums for entirely different reasons. Sweet gum got its name in the way we might expect, from its sticky sap. Dissect the Latin name, and you reveal a wonderfully poetic tribute to this sap—Liquidambar meaning liquid amber and styraciflua, flowing with storax or aromatic resin.
🌳 The Truth About Sweetgum and Human Health
Let's cut through the noise: Sweetgum trees are not toxic to humans. Despite the spiky inconvenience of their seed pods, known as gumballs, there's no evidence to suggest that the Sweetgum tree poses a health risk to your family.
Liquidambar styraciflua
The American sweetgum is known for its distinctive five-pointed leaves which are said to smell like mango when pulled off the branch.
Each sweetgum tree annually drops hundreds of round, prickly seed capsules that can be easy to slip on when walking and are difficult to clean up.
Much of the root system is shallow (particularly in its native, moist habitat), but there are deep vertical roots directly beneath the trunk in well-drained and in some other soils.
First measure the tree's circumference in inches 4½ feet (54 inches) above ground level. This is called CBH or circumference at breast height. Then determine the diameter by dividing the circumference by 3.14 (pi). Then multiply the diameter in inches by the appropriate factor to determine the estimated tree age.
But eucalypts also have a deadly reputation. There's an old idiom I still hear every now and then that pops up in relation to eucalyptus trees – 'widow makers'. An old colloquialism not exclusively applied to eucalypts, it is used to describe anything that could quickly kill a man, leaving a widow behind.
Down comes a whopper branch sometimes more than 30 feet long. The branch can weigh hundreds of pounds, and will weigh many thousands more with velocity by the time it hits ground. This is "sweetgum terrorism," because this event can happen any time.
The bark was used as a substitute for twine by the early settlers. The other category is the smooth barks which includes the Sydney red gum. It's a beautiful tree and the bark actually peels off every year - a characteristic of the smooth bark types.