Rain Garden Plants: Sweetgum

Sweetgum is a medium to large deciduous tree that must be planted with room to grow. The star-shaped leaves have 5 to 7 pointed, finely-toothed lobes. Yellow-green flowers appear in clusters in April and May. The female flowers develop the "gumballs." The spiny, ball-like fruit contains seeds and can be a nuisance. It has very showy yellow, orange, red, and purple fall foliage. Bark, especially on the branches, is covered in corky projections. It is resistant to drought, compacted soils, deer, and rabbits.

• Height: 60 to 80 feet, occasionally up to 100 feet
• Bloom color: Green
• Bloom time: April/May
• Hardiness zone: 5 to 9
• Salt tolerance: Tolerant of salt spray and soil salt

Site Conditions

• Sun: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil: Neutral to acidic, moist, well-drained
• Hydrologic zones: Wet/moist

Sources

Morton Arboretum

Missouri Botanical Garden 

Prepared by Jodi Sulpizio, Jessica Chou, and Constance Schmotzer. Peer reviewed by Scott Sjolander and Sandra Feather. Finalized by Jodi Sulpizio