Liquidambar styraciflua Gum Ball - American Sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua 'Gum Ball' is a variety of dwarf American Sweetgum that stands out for its extremely reduced growth and its attractive ball-shaped habit. Not exceeding 3 m (9 in 10 ft) in all directions, this small deciduous tree has the same palmate foliage as its larger counterpart and is adorned with the same splendid autumn colours. If you love liquidambar but have limited space in your garden, don't hesitate to adopt this adorable variety! To succeed with cultivation provide it with a cool, non-chalky soil and a prime standalone location in the garden, allowing it to be admired in all its splendor.

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

The Gum Ball cultivar will not exceed 3 m (9 in 10 ft) in all directions, and its growth is rather moderate to moderately fast. It develops a short, very vertical trunk and a dense, rounded crown. The deciduous foliage is another asset of this tree. It consists of palmate leaves, divided into 5 to 9 finely toothed triangular lobes, arranged alternately on the branches. Dark green in colour from spring to summer, they turn flamboyant shades of yellow, orange, copper, scarlet, and violet in autumn. The discreet flowering takes place in April on individuals aged 25 years and older, in the form of upright male catkins separate from the female flowers, as pendant aments measuring 2 to 3 cm (0.8 - 1.2 in) in diameter. After pollination, pompom-like fruits form, somewhat resembling those of the plane tree. Each fruit is composed of several capsules that contain small winged seeds, similar to maple samaras. The bark of the liquidambar is dark brown in colour, with corky crevices. The lifespan of this beautiful tree is about 150 years.

The Gum Ball liquidambar will delight shrub enthusiasts who do not have a garden large enough to adopt this majestic species. This small hardy tree requires a non-chalky, deep, and moist but not waterlogged soil, as well as a sunny site. Once established it requires no maintenance. It can be planted standing alone in a lawn or in a shrub grove or free hedge. To create a beautiful autumn palette combine with other colourful trees and shrubs such as Ginkgo Biloba 'Blagon', Toona sinensis 'Flamingo', purple hazel, Japanese maple, and Hamamelis, which thrive in similar 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 liquidambar, with its reddish-brown color, renowned for its scent and mechanical qualities, was widely used in cabinetmaking for the production of fine furniture.