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Liquidambar for fall color

10 years ago

Some hate Sweetgums here (for good reason...those "balls" they make) but for a low traffic, isolated area they can look really nice.

I've found they color better in fall here than they did when I lived in OH...in Ohio it seemed about half the time they froze before reaching full potential.

Are there some cultivars out there that have specifically reliable fall color? I've heard 'Moraine' is a good one for that.

I have a seedling Liquidambar that sprouted on its own (seed came from the tree across the street, I presume) in Spring 2009 that is now about 10 feet tall & 1" caliper, but it's never had anything but chartreuse fall color...is that something that might change as it gets older, or do I have a dud?

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Comments (2)

Dzitmoidonc
10 years ago
A lot of duds out there. One grows here. Colors up about every 3rd year, and not well even then. Not even in my top 50 favorite trees here, but a native. If I were to do it again, I would either get a cultivar guaranteed to color or buy one in the fall instead of the spring. As it is, I only have 10 acres, and as I'm sure Lucky would agree, 2 on 10 acres is too many.
hairmetal4ever
Original Author
10 years ago
Yeah, I keep thinking of just ripping it out...but it has such a nice little shape to it, growing very rapidly and nicely. I hate to chop it.
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