Rotundiloba Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Rotundiloba’)
This lovely tree would be on every gardener’s wishlist if not for the woody, spiny fruit which drop in fall and winter. That’s what makes ‘Rotundiloba’ sweetgum such a special tree, it’s fruitless! This tree has EXCELLENT fall color. The star shaped leaves turn gorgeous shades of yellow, orange, red and purple and persist late into fall. The tree is decidedly pyramidal in youth, becoming more oblong to rounded with maturity. Excellent for planting in moist areas, where flooding can occur, but also performs well in drier soils.
Mature Height: 50′-60′
Mature Spread: 25′-35′
Zone: 5
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil Preference: Tolerant to a wide variety of soils, but prefers loamy, moist, well drained soils. Very tolerant of wetter soils. Prefers acidic soils.
Nurseryman’s Notes: One of my very favorite trees in fall. Moderate to fast growth rate (12″ – 24″ per year) with amazing fall color. Because this cultivar is fruitless, you don’t have to worry about the spiny seedpods that sometimes give this native species a bad name. Everyone who loves fall foliage should have one!
Charlotte Creek Nursery 