Liquidambar styraciflua Albomarginata Manon - American Sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua ' Albomarginata Manon' is a variety of American Sweetgum which is significantly smaller than the species, so well-suited for small gardens. This small deciduous tree is also distinguished by its distinctly pyramidal habit, but especially by its absolutely remarkable variegated foliage. Its beautiful palmate leaves in a bluish green shade are irregularly margined with cream white, then turn red with a pink margin in autumn before falling. The winter reveals a brown and corky bark that is full of character. This light-loving species that prefers non-calcareous soil requires a prominent position in the garden, ideally isolated, allowing it to be admired in all its splendour. 

The American Sweetgum is a tree of the Hamamelidaceae family, which includes many beautifully coloured plants in autumn such as Hamamelis, Parrotia, and Loropetalum. This majestic tree is native to North America, specifically the banks of large rivers such as the Mississippi and Ohio, for example. Its name, Liquidambar, comes from the Latin word "liquidus", meaning liquid, and the Arabic word "ambar", meaning amber, due to the aromatic amber-coloured oleoresin that flows from its bark. Discovered in 1528, it was introduced to Europe in 1681.

The 'Albomarginata Manon' cultivar reaches an average height of 7m (23ft) under our climatic conditions, with a rather slow growth. It develops a very vertical trunk topped by a dense, distinctly pyramidal and stocky crown, slightly irregular, with a base diameter of about 5m (16ft 5in). The deciduous foliage is the main asset of this tree. It consists of palmate leaves, divided into 5 to 9 finely toothed triangular lobes, arranged alternately on the branches. Greenish-blue with cream margins, they turn flamboyant red and pink in autumn. The inconspicuous flowering occurs in April on subjects aged 25 years and older, in the form of erect male catkins separate from the female flowers, in the form of pendant globular clusters measuring 2 to 3cm (0.8 to 1.2in) in diameter. After pollination, pompom-like fruits similar to those of the plane tree are formed. Each fruit is composed of several capsules that contain small winged seeds, similar to maple samaras. The bark of the sweetgum is dark brown in colour, with corky crevices. This very beautiful tree has a lifespan of about 150 years.

The 'Albomarginata Manon' sweetgum is hardy. This tree requires a non-calcareous, deep, and moist soil without being waterlogged, and a sunny exposure. Once established, it requires no maintenance. It can be planted either as a solitary tree on a lawn or in a row along a grand avenue or property boundary. The Liquidambar styraciflua 'Albomarginata Manon' is often found in public spaces, where it stands out with its superb colours from spring to autumn. You can associate it to create a beautiful autumn palette with other colourful trees such as Ginkgo biloba, Toona sinensis 'Flamingo', Nyssa sylvatica, and Hamamelis, which thrive in the same cool environments and deep soils.

Properties:

The aromatic resin exuded by the bark is also called styrax or liquidambar balm. It was once used in aromatherapy, primarily by indigenous populations, and later, upon its arrival in Europe, by cosmetics manufacturers who incorporated it into various preparations such as milks or beauty creams. The wood of the sweetgum, with its reddish-brown colour, renowned for its scent and mechanical qualities, was widely used in cabinetmaking for the production of precious furniture.