Why Plant Slender Silhouette Sweetgum?
Slender Silhouette Sweetgum is a whiplash-inducing tree. Plant at your own risk! You won’t find anything quite like this fun, quirky tree. Slender Silhouette rises to 60 feet in height, like any Sweetgum, but it only gets 6 feet wide. No, that’s not a typo! In fall, this tree trades its green leaves for the typical Sweetgum kaleidoscope of purple, red, orange, and yellow. Slender Silhouette is a fast-growing tree that’s easy to maintain. It does produce those spiky “gumballs,” but politely drops them in a tidy circle, where you can easily gather them up. Plant a single specimen to express your sense of humor, or plant a row along your property line for a cool, super-skinny screen.
Fourth-generation nurseryman Don Shadow is always on the lookout for plants doing interesting things, but he wouldn’t have had to be an expert plantsman to notice this guy—the original Slender Silhouette was 60 feet tall and only 3 feet wide when he found it growing by the railroad tracks. Don also has a passion for unusual animals and raises 60 different species (several of them endangered) on his Winchester, Tennessee farm. Ever heard of an eland? A gayal? He’s also got camels, buffalos, wallabies, alpacas, yaks—even a zonkey!
How to use Slender Silhouette Sweetgum in the landscape?
The star-shaped leaves gives this Sweetgum away. Never thought you could plant one in your small space? Think again! This Sweetgum is a narrow grower, hence the Slender Silhouette name. The same gorgeous fall color and the same spiky gumballs appear in fall, just a more slender specimen. Perfect for smaller yards, narrow spaces or specimen planting.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zones: 5-9
How To Plant Slender Silhouette Sweetgum
Sweetgums are really 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
They require keeping the soil moist (not too wet) after initial planting. Once established, they are more tolerant of drought conditions, reducing your hand-watering responsibilities.
How To Fertilize
During fall, feed your Sweetgum Bower & Branch Elements Fertilizer once a year for about the first 3 or 4 years - this will give your tree all the nutrients it needs.
How To Prune
As your tree 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.
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-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 you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
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.
