LIQUIDAMBAR styraciflua ‘Aurea’ (variegated American Sweetgum)

Description

LIQUIDAMBAR styraciflua ‘Aurea’ has beautiful starry foliage variegated with yellow and green. The yellow color resists the summer sun perfectly and does not burn.
Then, in autumn, it takes on magnificent tones (cream, orange, purple, and yellow).
Finally, in winter, when the leaves have fallen, this variegated American Sweetgum will decorate your garden with its beautiful shape and superb bark.
This small tree grows more slowly than the type species, which itself already grows timidly. Therefore, you can use it even in small gardens.

To view the other varieties of LIQUIDAMBAR currently available, please click here.

How to grow and care for LIQUIDAMBAR styraciflua ‘Aurea’

Plant this variegated American sweetgum in full sun or partial shade. The more sunlight it captures per day, the more yellow it will be. Remember, its yellow color does not burn in the summer sun.
You can use it for planting alone or in clumps.

Furthermore, it likes moist or moderately moist soil. The soil can be light or normal with an acidic, calcareous or neutral pH.

For a good preparation of the pot or ground, we have designed specific instructions available here. Furthermore, discover here how to water your garden and save water.

History and Origin

It was Linnaeus himself who named this small tree “LIQUIDAMBAR” in 1753. The Spanish naturalist Francisco Hernandez described it for the first time in a writing published postmortem in 1615. Juan de Grijalva, nephew of the governor of Cuba, mentioned it in 1517, from an exchange of gifts from the Mayans.

Furthermore, this species is uniquely distinguished by its bark composed of perpendicular plates holding on to the trunk and branches. In addition, the leaves usually have five pointed palms.
Flowers appear in spring, followed by globular fruits.

In addition, the natural habitat of the American Sweetgum is in the southeastern United States.

Otherwise, this species as well as its different cultivars such as LIQUIDAMBAR styarciflua ‘Aurea’ are particularly appreciated as ornamental trees. However, LIQUIDAMBAR styraciflua is one of the most important commercial hardwoods in the southeastern United States.
It is used for frames, furniture, cigar boxes, parquet flooring and even barrels.
Finally, the resin was used for medicine and chewing gum.