Delivery Date to be Scheduled for Spring 2024 in Your Area
The bright orange and red fall foliage and the spiky gumball of Audubon native American Sweetgum and four varieties of native birds that benefit from the American Sweetgum
The bright red to orange fall foliage of the native American Sweetgum with the brownish-yellow spiky gumball seed pod dangling
A large native American Sweetgum tree planted in a landscape with its bright green foliage covering the branching
The seed pod of a native American Sweetgum with a chickadee pecking at the pod
A closeup of the brown, spiky seed pod of the native American Sweetgum
A map highlighting the locations where the American Sweetgum can be found natively growing
Tufted Titmouse perched on a branch
Carolina Chickadee perched on a branch
Purple Finch perched on a bird feeder
Red-Winged Blackbird on a piece of grass
The bright orange and red fall foliage and the spiky gumball of Audubon native American Sweetgum and four varieties of native birds that benefit from the American Sweetgum
The bright red to orange fall foliage of the native American Sweetgum with the brownish-yellow spiky gumball seed pod dangling
A large native American Sweetgum tree planted in a landscape with its bright green foliage covering the branching
The seed pod of a native American Sweetgum with a chickadee pecking at the pod
A closeup of the brown, spiky seed pod of the native American Sweetgum
A map highlighting the locations where the American Sweetgum can be found natively growing
Tufted Titmouse perched on a branch
Carolina Chickadee perched on a branch
Purple Finch perched on a bird feeder
Red-Winged Blackbird on a piece of grass

FEATURES:

  • May Benefit & Attract: finches, Red-winged Blackbirds, chickadees, titmice, sparrows, doves, towhees, and juncos
  • The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.
  • This bird-friendly native trees provides food and shelter for local and migrating birds and other wildlife
  • All Audubon® branded trees are grown 100% Neonic-free by Bower & Branch, making these plants safer for the birds and safer for the environment.
  • Hand Selected, Fresh from the Grower
  • Size XL and larger - Ships on our trucks because of the size of the tree - does not fit in a box

Growth Facts

  • Hardiness Zone: 5-9
  • Mature Height: 40-60' tall
  • Mature Width: 30-40' wide
  • Exposure: Full Sun
  • Spacing: 30-40' apart

Audubon® Native American Sweetgum

Bower & Branch Trees and Plants

Liquidambar styraciflua

Regular price
Still Growing
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FEATURES:

  • May Benefit & Attract: finches, Red-winged Blackbirds, chickadees, titmice, sparrows, doves, towhees, and juncos
  • The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow.
  • This bird-friendly native trees provides food and shelter for local and migrating birds and other wildlife
  • All Audubon® branded trees are grown 100% Neonic-free by Bower & Branch, making these plants safer for the birds and safer for the environment.
  • Hand Selected, Fresh from the Grower
  • Size XL and larger - Ships on our trucks because of the size of the tree - does not fit in a box

Growth Facts

  • Hardiness Zone: 5-9
  • Mature Height: 40-60' tall
  • Mature Width: 30-40' wide
  • Exposure: Full Sun
  • Spacing: 30-40' apart

Why plant Audubon® Native American Sweetgum?

In autumn, we look forward to the crazy-quilt colors of American Sweetgum’s leaves. But birds look forward to something else. They are seeking out the spiky “gumballs” that hang from the branches. When the seeds ripen inside, the funky fruits become a plethora of tiny bird feeders! American Goldfinches, Purple Finches, Red-winged Blackbirds, chickadees, and titmice are fans. Sparrows, doves, towhees, and juncos may linger on the ground to gather up seeds spilled there. The noble native Sweetgum Tree also hosts a wide array of caterpillars, which make up an important part of many birds’ diets, especially when they are raising their young. A beautiful, bountiful, bird-friendly tree.

In the early 1900’s a Sweetgum tree at Kittyhawk stood quietly by watching Wilbur and Orville Wright develop flight as we know it today. We imagine the young tree rooting (no pun intended) for them as they experimented with kites, gliders and eventually airplanes. Perhaps the tree even cheered as they successfully flew the first heavier-than-air powered plane on December 17, 1903 in that field in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The first commercial flight was scheduled in Tampa, Florida in 1914. Today, at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa, a seedling from the original Sweetgum tree was planted in honor of the Wright Bros.

How to use Audubon® Native American Sweetgum in the landscape?

The festive fall foliage colors is what will cause you to have stars in your eyes! This native's large five-pointed star shaped leaves change from glossy green in summer to yellows, reds and purples in Autumn. Spiky golf ball size fruit keeps the fall foliage company. The fruit may be a nuisance to some, but can be a crafty resource to others. Corky gray bark is present year round, but gives you stellar appeal in winter!

Audubon® Native Plants & Trees

Audubon is devoted to protecting birds and the places they need, while Bower & Branch is devoted to the growth of true native trees and plants–no cultivars or hybrids. Together, we strive to unite communities in conservation and inspire individuals to cultivate a better world for birds starting in their own backyards, balconies, or patios. By guiding and recommending trees and plants truly native and beneficial to your region, we can really start to make a difference.

What is the definition of Native?

“In the United States, a native plant is defined as one that was naturally found in a particular area before European colonization. Native plants are the foundation of a region’s biodiversity, providing essential food sources and shelter for birds, especially those threatened by the changing climate. Since native plants are adapted to local precipitation and soil conditions, they generally require less upkeep, therefore helping the environment and saving you time, water, and money.” – The National Audubon Society

Learn how you can help birds in your home and community through Audubon’s Plants for Birds program.

Audubon® is a licensed and registered trademark of the National Audubon Society. All rights reserved.

Planting Zones

Hardiness Zone: 5-9

How To Plant Audubon® Native American Sweetgum

Sweetgums are fast growing and best recognized by their star-shaped leaves. You might also recognize their spiky ball-shaped seed pods, you usually see them scattered on the ground – a good reason not to plant this tree along a sidewalk or by your patio. Sweetgums like to be planted in full sun and they are really tolerant of all soil conditions. This is one easy-to-grow tree! Sweetgums are almost pest-free. Some common pests are borer and webworm. Most of the time when a pest problem occurs, it is because the tree has become stressed. Proper tree care and maintenance will usually rule out most future problems with insects or diseases.

How To Water

After you initially plant your Sweetgum, be sure to keep it watered for the first few years. This helps your tree become established in your garden. From there, your Sweetgum should be able to handle dry spells without an issue!

How To Fertilize

Incorporate Elements Starter Plant food granular form into the soil when planting. If planting in spring or summer, start fertilizing late fall using Elements Starter Plant food granular form on an annual basis each late fall. Continue this for the first three years to get your plant well established.

How To Prune

As your American Sweetgum grows, you might need to prune off some of the lower branches if they are growing too low on the trunk, this is what I like to call “limbing up” your tree.

Videos

How Does Shipping Work?

Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our large trees require expert delivery and care, that means our large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care.

We deliver your trees and plants directly to your driveway or curbside! Ask Bower & Branch about planting services and rates – we'd be happy to assist in installation.

*Big trees, Size XL (A) and bigger, will take approximately 2 to 4 weeks days to be delivered. - Sizes large (AA) and smaller (Treelings) will be shipped directly to your home by a local common carrier in a plant-safe box.

How Does Sizing Work?

The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health.. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)

Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.

All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!

See the size guides below.

How Trees are Shipped
Size 4XL D Trees Size 3XL C Trees Size 2XL B Trees Size XL A Trees Size LARGE AA Trees

Our Guarantees

3-YEAR-TREE GUARANTEE:

Bower & Branch offers a Three-Year Tree Guarantee on all of our trees, sizes X-Large and up. Only the finest and the most experienced growers are awarded the opportunity to grow for Bower & Branch, so we offer the best guarantee available.

If your tree(s) should fail for any reason during the three-year guarantee period, you will receive an online gift card in the amount that you originally spent on the tree.* You can then use this online gift card for any Bower & Branch Purchase.

* Bower & Branch provides online gift cards in the amount of the original purchase price of the tree(s). The amount does not include any additional costs such as delivery, planting, tax, or any other products or services. Online gift cards can be applied towards any Bower & Branch purchase on BowerandBranch.com and have no expiration dates. Bower & Branch does not guarantee tree replacement or availability of any desired product at any time. Cash refunds are not offered. Bower & Branch requires that all original tags and receipts are present when a guarantee request is initiated. The Bower & Branch Three-Year Guarantee only applies to plant material that has been planted in the ground. Container plantings are NOT covered.

At Bower & Branch, we do our best to honor all guarantee fulfillment requests to ensure customer satisfaction. However, we reserve the right to refuse the request if the required guarantee steps were not satisfied. Bower & Branch also reserves the right to deny any guarantee fulfillment request that is made as a result of animal damage, problems with plant hardiness and zone issues, or acts of nature (snow storms, hurricanes, and similar).

 

Reach out to a Plant Whisperer with any questions:

- Email: plantwhisperers@bowerandbranch.com

- Phone: 866-873-3888

- Or via Online Chat


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