Another Perfect Plant: Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’

Written By Paul Cady

Happy New Year!  It's time for another perfect plant...

Liquidambar styraciflua 'Slender Silhouette'.jpg

A fine tree for a tight space in full sun or part shade, Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Slender Silhouette’ is a narrow gem of tree, growing up to 60’ tall, but only 3-4’ wide. Though the species is known for dropping fruits in a wide circle around the tree, this cultivar, due to its tight frame, drops fruits in a tight, easy to clean up circle around the trunk. The tree was discovered by Don Shadow growing along a railroad track. The fall color is a mix of gorgeous reds, purples, yellows and oranges. The common name, sweet gum, probably refers to the Native American practice of hardening the sap into a chewing gum. Medicinally, the hardened sap has been used to treat dysentery as well as other ailments.  

References
USDA
Horticulture 
Canada Plants

Photo reference:
Broken Arrow Nursery

 

 

Paul Cady

Paul is a landscape designer with a professional background in public horticulture. His years of experience maintaining both public and private gardens provide an informed perspective on choosing, arranging, and placing plants in the landscape. He is committed to creating landscapes that will survive and thrive over time through making informed plant choices and developing written landscape management plans.

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