TREES OF PARKFAIRFAX: SWEETGUM

This native southern tree has several names: redgum, star-leaved gum, alligator wood, and just plain gum tree. In the natural state it is found in moist to wet acidic soil, commonly in swamps. The sweetgum is a tall tree  (50 – 120 feet) easily identified by its star-shaped small toothed leaves  five-to-seven lobed which are fragrant when crushed.  It can also be identified by it unique brown, dry, somewhat prickly hanging fruit balls in September –November.  The bark is dark gray-brown deeply furrowed with narrow ridges, probably giving it the name alligator wood. 

The sweetgum has excellent fall color, probably the reason it is used as an ornamental.  The lustrous dark green leaves turn to beautiful shades of yellow, orange, red and purple and last well into the fall.  The tree is pyramidal in shape when young, developing into an oblong or rounded crown when mature. While native to moist soils it can do well in drier soils also. 

Sweetgum is named because the sap from a wound when it hardens can be used as gum  sweet to the taste.  According to the University of Florida web site, pioneers peeled the bark of the tree, scraped the resin-like solid to produce chewing gum.  The tree’s most important product is its wood. Second only to the oaks, sweetgum wood is used in flooring, furniture, veneers (it takes a high polish), interiors, woodenware, boats, toys, baskets, and boxes.  The hanging balls are often painted and used to decorate Christmas trees.  Our squirrels, chipmunks and songbirds eat the seeds that fall from the balls.

You can see examples of the sweet gum at the intersection of Martha Custis and Valley Drive  (two immature trees) and an older tree up Gunston Road hill from that intersection at the foot of steps going up to Building 102. 

Read more about the sweetgum and see photos at the falling web sites.

www.sfrc.ufl.edu/4h/Sweetgum/Sweetgum.htm

www.cnr.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/lstyraciflua.htm