Plant Family: Altingiaceae
Growth Form: A medium-sized straight-trunked tree to 20 meters in our area, it grows much larger further south, up to 40 meters tall.
Leaves: Alternate, simple, shiny, from 15 to 20 cm long, with 5 to 7 sharp pointed lobes.
Bark: The trunk is gray and deeply fissured, the branches often have corky wings.
Flowers: Male flowers in greenish upright catkins, female flowers on long-stalked rounded clusters, April to May.
Fruits: Prickly capsules in hanging, ball-like clusters about 3 cm in diameter, seen from fall into winter.
Habitat: Deciduous woods with rich soil.
Range: Sweetgum is a southern tree that reaches the northern limit of its natural range in Connecticut; it will be found in arboretums and parks in other New England states. There are disjunct populations in the cool highlands of Mexico and Central America.
Key Features: The shiny star-shaped leaves and spiky ball-like fruits are unique and will easily identify this attractive species.
Comments: The congealed sap has been used medicinally to treat sores and skin ailments, and as chewing gum. Several different cultivars have been developed and Sweetgum is a popular ornamental in other temperate zone regions, including Europe and Australia.
