baynelibrary@einetwork.net. Not only are they bountiful, they are loaded with nutrients. 17, 2015, pp. Examining the leaves more closely can help you identify them. . The American sweetgum is a large shade tree with an ovular shape. I'd suggest you take a good field guide with you - in your case, Tree of Georgia and Adjacent States by Brown and Kirkman would probably be the best - and go on a hike through some nearby woods. Sweetgum fruit is a round, spikey and woody ball of capsules that is about one to one-and-a-half inches in diameter. Leaf Shape: Slender with a pointed tip. It grows in moist flat areas in association with pin oak or sycamore. Instead it relies on the wind to carry the seeds away from the parent tree. Some ppl are upset with the spikey sweetgum balls but the trees get very big and majestic and imho are well worth the spikers which can be picked up (gloves) or raked. Sweet gum tree is a tall, majestic tree that's difficult to beat for symmetrical beauty in a landscape setting. All gums are produced by different species of trees and are used for a variety of functions in our daily lives. Their waxy leaves also tend to take much longer to compost as well. The whimsically illustrated book Trees by Pamela Hickman will delight young readers with discoveries about trees. On the other hand, maple trees produce food for other animals but dont produce much edible material themselves. Between two websites about maple trees, more than 30 varieties are listed as growing in the U.S., from the very large black, or rock, maple, Acer nigrum, to the small and dwarf Japanese maple, Acer palmatum. Maple leaves resemble sweetgum leaves and each other in their palmate shape. Cupaniopsis fovealata is an australian rainforest tree in Sapindaceae. "Sweet Gum Tree" Many of us are familiar with the fruit of red maple, but perhaps just didnt know what tree it came from. To identify sweet gum trees, look for large star-shaped lobed green leaves that turn spectacular autumn red, yellow, and orange colors. Yields long-stemmed, woody, burr-like fruit that is approximately 1" in diameter. 12 April 2007. Sweetgum trees make for good shading foliage because they keep their leaves deep into fall. En cliquant sur Accepter , j'accepte l'utilisation des cookies telle qu'elle est dcrite plus en dtail dans la Politique d'Utilisation des Cookies de Houzz. The alternate leaves are maple-like or star-shaped. Lara earned her Bachelors and Masters degree in Natural Resource Conservation from the University of Florida and is a graduate of the Natural Resources Leadership Institute. Examine the leaf. . Not only can the roots of black walnut trees be toxic to a whole slew of annuals and perennials, their leaves can as well. Although certainly related because theyre both flowering plants, sweetgum trees and oak trees belong to different plant families. In winter, and all year round, for the most part, mature trees still have a few sweetgum balls hanging about the branches here and there. } i don't think many would find it desirable to have those in a lawn or garden setting.chueh is asking for information about existing trees and not wanting to know this to help with a decision for selecting a tree to plant but the link in the above post would provide some study data to consider for doing that. Japanese maple, whose name includes a description of leaf shape, Acer palmatum, is known for leaves with anywhere from seven to 11 deeply cut and visibly toothed lobes in its leaves. Fall Leaves. Photosynthetic Capacity of Senescent Leaves for a Subtropical Broadleaf Deciduous Tree Species Liquidambar Formosana Hance.Scientific Reports, vol. While maples thrive in most U.S. states, up into Canada and as far north as Alaska, eastern and western varieties do not overlap. */ Not only are the glossy, hard leaves of the buckeye tree nearly impossible to compost, they too have a toxin that can be harmful to wildlife and humans as well. The downside to growing a sweetgum tree is the seed pods. It is native to North America, where it is found along the eastern coast from Connecticut to northern Florida. Instead, their seeds can be used for cooking or manufacturing sugar. In addition to the resin being sweet, the green leaves have a delightfully sweet aroma when crushed. If you're familiar with the fruit of Australian pine, or what I called "ouchies" as a . Maple trees never grow sweetgum balls. Lobes on many varieties are, however, smaller than the center of the leaf and range from very to only slightly pointy. myimages2[3]="../../../images/top-banner/behindtheforum.jpg" The bark is grayish brown and deeply furrowed. Although the leaves have a similar shape to some maple leaves, a quick check of the leaf growth pattern can confirm the tree's identity. Black maple leaves have three lobes, while sugar maples have the traditional five lobes. L. styraciflua is a deciduous tree to 20m tall, broadly conical in outline, with rather glossy, maple-like, 5 to 7-lobed leaves which turn to shades of orange, crimson and purple in autumn. It is okay to add a small portion of beech leaves to a compost pile, but they should never make up more than 10% of the total makeup. Btw, 9 years ago when the question was originally asked Chueh didn't appear to feel fun was being made by 'plant nerds'. Latin Name Acer then something or other. Sweet potato leaves. Maple is in the family Aceraceae while sweet gum in in the family Altingiaceae. The ceremonial planting of the first three trees occurred near the Flight 93 National Memorials visitor shelter and memorial walk in 2011. Her work focuses on wildlife, water, and general environmental education. Over 200+ free JavaScripts here! This autumn foliage has tinier and feather-like leaves, unlike the leaves of maple or sweet gum trees. ry=1 Leaves of Plants Pictogram Set Pictograms Tree Leaves, Dogrose, Oak, Iberian Oak, Maple, Liquidambar, Hawthorn, Poplar Silver, Hazel, Elm, Birch, Linden, Rowan, Chestnut, Buckeye, Viburnum . It doesn't take much for a wind storm to blow in a batch from a tree across the highway. The star-like leaf has five or seven lobes or points and turns from green in summer to yellow or purple in autumn. Interestingly, the various hues are often exhibited on the same tree. Grows 60'-70', with a 45' spread. Stems often have corky and attractive wings during the second year. Although the leaves of the Ginkgo tree do not contain any harmful ingredients to plants, they are extremely waxy. Botanists place sweetgum in the witch hazel family, while oaks are assigned to the beech family. Small mammals such as chipmunks, red squirrels and gray squirrels also enjoy the fruits and seeds. myimages[6]="../../../images/top-banner/EZ-junior.jpg" Lingbeck, Jody M., et al. Yellow-poplar leaves are flat and slightly lobed and appear to be trimmed across the top, with two deeper lobes on either side of the midrib (the primary rib or central vein). function random_imglink(){ Each leaf is on its own layer and is easily separated from the other leaves and from the white background and shadows. Sweet Gums grow quite tall- 75 ft . In the fall, their leaves turn brilliant shades of yellow and red. Trees of Pennsylvania and the Northeast by Charles Fergus covers over fifty trees found in our region. This tree is often planted in parks where its height, ranging from 70-120 feet, and sprawling branches, spreading 40-50 feet, create shade for visitors. Examine the bark. "Liquidambar Styraciflua." In fact, there are areas close to my neighborhood where the sidewalks are currently closed as the city goes through its endless process of removing broken concrete, cutting roots, leveling and re-laying concrete. They are vigorous shade trees from the southeastern United States with star-shaped leaves that smell sweetly resinous if scratched. Each lobe is less than four inches in size. Are they the same family? Is a sweet gun not an oxymoron? Species of sweetgum trees are found around the world, from North America (Liquidambar styraciflua) to China (Liquidambar acalycina) to Greece and Turkey (Liquidambar orientalis). Sweet Gums grow quite tall- 75 ft. If that wasnt enough, the leaves of black walnut trees contain ingredients that can also prevent seeds from germinating. This "trimmed" top helps distinguish the leaves from those of maples and sycamores. Maples are among the most shade-tolerant deciduous trees and thrive in areas with cooler temperate climates such as Canada and the northern United States. They also produce delicious sweets that humans enjoy!. Sweet-gum (1645-23*1) is in the . Other trees with maple-like leavesthe sycamore, sweetgum, and yellow-poplarhave leaves that are alternate in arrangement. In addition, the bark has a strong scent and is used to make perfumes, essential oils, and medicines. Both grow to heights between 60 and 100 feet, providing summer shade, attractively ridged gray bark, autumn color and fruit-capsules that bring entertainment to children. However, when mature, those lobes extend beyond four inches in size. In addition, oak leaves fall on the acidic side of the spectrum. Think I read someplace its almost the only tree in that family"Actually Liquidambar styraciflua - species names are always in lower case ;-)There are three other species in the genus Liquidambar in Asia, and a few other genera in its family. Alternate being that if you were to play connect the dots from where the leaf comes off the stem along the length of the stem, you would end up with a zigzag pattern. It has unique red, yellow, and white springtime leaves that are distinct from other trees. Vector illustration. Pittsburgh PA 15202 //specify random images below. Unlike sweetgum fruit, red maple fruit does not persist. Introduction: Sweetgum is an excellent urban tree provided it has a large area for root development. Sycamores include a variety of tree species, ranging from the Old World sycamore (Platanus orientalis) to the American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) to the California sycamore (Platanus racemosa). Their fall color lasts much longer than most other trees. How To Overwinter Mums The Simple Secrets To Saving Hardy Mums! Though humans enjoy the sweets produced by sweet gum trees, other creatures dont eat its seeds or leaves. Opposite being that you would end up with several horizontal lines. imagelinks[3]="https://woodmizer.com/Store/Shop/Portable-Sawmills/LX25-Portable-Sawmill?utm_source=forestryforum.com&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=lx25&utm_term=2023-02-10&utm_content=800x160" The leaves have a similar shape, and the fall foliage color, well, that's bright and festive, just like a maple. Here are three to always avoid: Black walnut trees and gardening simply do not go hand in hand. The black gum tree's bark is deeply ridged and resembles alligator skin. As you will see below, one of the common denominators of good leaves versus bad leaves is their lignin level. Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: C. Colston Burrell Our Sweet Gum tree is located on the edge of Bayne Park along North Balph Avenue near the flagpole. Grows 60'-70', with a 45' spread. Sweet gum tree related species: The Formosan sweet gum (Liquidambar formosana) is similar to the native sweet gum but with three-lobed leaves. A 133-foot yellow-poplar known as the Queens Giant, or the Alley Pond Giant, is believed to be the oldest living thing in New York City. Nyssa sylvatica grows to 20-25 metres (66-82 ft) tall, rarely to 35 metres (115 ft), with a trunk diameter of 50-100 centimetres (20-39 in), rarely up to 170 centimetres (67 in). The bark is gray-brown with irregular furrows and rough, rounded ridges. Product link : Earthwise Electric Chipper/Shredder. Add them in moderation to piles, always being sure to shred them as finely as possible to speed decomposition. The Sweetgum tree is native to the southeastern United States and a member of a genus made up of only six species. When you cut into the trunk, you see the wood is light, fine-textured, and uniform. */ Fruit tree leaves have good levels of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. The Most Common North American Hardwood Trees, Hardwood Trees: Identifying the Most Common Species, Identifying Common North American Conifers, How to Identify Maple, Sycamore, Yellow-Poplar, and Sweetgum Leaves, Ten Most Common Trees in the United States, Identify a Tree Using Leaf Shape, Margin, and Venation, Why Manchineel Might Be Earth's Most Dangerous Tree, Illustrations of Common Eastern United States Trees by Charles Sprague Sargent, Identifying Wild Mushrooms: What to Eat, What to Avoid, Photosynthetic Capacity of Senescent Leaves for a Subtropical Broadleaf Deciduous Tree Species Liquidambar Formosana Hance, Sweetgum: An Ancient Source of Beneficial Compounds with Modern Benefits. all have smaller leaves and winged fruits; American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) has larger leaves with shallow lobes and unique peeling bark. Politique d'Utilisation des Cookies de Houzz. It is often used in landscaping and in the production of honey. Maple trees have shiny dark green leaves that are oval-shaped with uneven edges. Leaves are typically greenish-yellow and sometimes orange. The leaves turn red, yellow, pink and purple in the fall before changing back to green in the spring. These leaves are small, and will easily . Roundleaf sweetgum, or Liquidambar styraciflua rotundiloba,has star-shaped leaves with three to five lobes that have rounded tips. Maple trees commonly have leaves with pointed lobes and with deep indentations between the lobes. In case youve missed it, Ive been blogging about commonly confused tree species (and, wellcommonly confuses species in general). The maple is a genus with about 128 different species, including the vine maple (Acer circinatum), hornbeam maple (Acer carpinifolium), and paperbark maple (Acer griseum). Sunflowers. If you want to find out what they are, leave a few to . Like the sweetgum and the yellow-poplar, the sycamore has leaves that are alternate in arrangement. We publish two articles every week, 52 weeks a year. Some species of maple have reddish-purple bark; it has distinct ridges and is hard to distinguish from the trees branches. The star-shaped leaves are 3-5 inches long and 3-7 inches wide with 5-7 sharply pointed lobes. The two main categories of leaf arrangement are alternate or opposite. Four species are common in the sweetgum genus. Tomatoes (cherry tomatoes make wonderful treats) Tomato plants- in moderation (mine eat them with no problems) Tree of Heaven. They range in color from green to yellow to deep red. There are two Sweetgum trees in my backyard, Liquidambar Styraciflua. The fruit of sweetgum looks nothing like the fruit of red maple. Ta Dahere I come, cape flying, in defense of my wonderful, adored liquidambars. "Liquidambar Styraciflua L." Southern Research Station, U.S. Forest Service. Description of sweet gum tree: The sweet gum has a pyramidal habit when young, eventually becoming rounded and tall -- up to more than 100 feet. Like maple leaves, sycamore leaves are divided into three to five shallow lobes. Metal Print of Yellow autumn leaf isolated on a white background. Want more information on trees and gardening? Sweetgum. Leaves: The sweetgum typically has large leaves with five pointed lobes and the edges of the leaves are toothed. St. John's Wort (can cause sun sensitivity in light skinned goats) Strawberry. Although the tree is named sycamore, this tree species is in the genus Acer which means it is one of the types of maple trees. The leaves of all fruit trees are another great choice for composting. The base of the leaf is slightly asymmetrical. maple, (Acer), any of a large genus (about 200 species) of shrubs or trees in the family Sapindaceae, widely distributed in the North Temperate Zone but concentrated in China. imagelinks[6]="http://www.ezboardwalk.com/" After examining the very young Sweetgum trees in my own backyard, I feel the need to defend your confusion between the species, especially after all the plant-nerds made fun of your totally valid question. Nutrients that energize the compost, all while adding large amounts of organic matter to it as well. Sweetgum seeds have been studied for anticonvulsant effects, and storax has been included in research to prevent hypertension and cancer. The tree has alternate, palmately lobed leaves with toothed margins that mature into a star shape. Notice the intensity and depth of color in the image below by Jorge Franganillo. The leaves of a maple tree are very distinct, but that shape does not belong to maple leaves alonea number of broadleaf trees have maple-like leaves. It produces small, insignificant green flowers in spring, these may be followed by burr-like fruits. Full sun is the ideal condition for this tree, meaning it should get at least six hours of direct, unfiltered sunlight each day. How do I perform a reduction cut on the trunk where branches are thin? Yellow-bellied sapsuckers are attracted by the sweet sap, evidence of their visitation can be noted by rows of small holes marking the trunk. Well, the obvious telltale sign is the seed containers. Maples have samoras, flat wingshaped seeds that many people call "helicopter" seeds, cause of the way they drop thru the air. One thing is for sure, when it comes to composting, all leaves are not the same and that is why it is vital to know what leaves are best for composting, which should be used in moderation, and which varieties of leaves should be left out of your pile completely! Here is to making the most of your autumn leaves, and to building healthy, nutrient filled compost with leaves! The easiest way to tell the difference, however young the tree and even in winter with no leaves, is the leaf arrangement. Chlorosis can show an a few leaves, an individual branch, half of the crown, or the entire tree. Have one Morraine with smooth trunk and a little faster growing, not as crinkled and gnarly and interesting as the others, but very pretty summer leaves. This iconic tree is easy to identify, in large part because of its distinctive leaves and notable fruit. The bark is dark gray and flaky when young, but it becomes furrowed with age, resembling alligator hide on very . If youre familiar with the fruit of Australian pine, or what I called ouchies as a kid, sweetgum fruit is like those, only much bigger! Thank you for all your input. During the fall, the leaves change colors from a deep green to many different shades of orange, brown, and red. . This leaf is borne on corky-winged limbs, and the fruit is a conspicuous spiked ball that grows in clusters. Red maple leaves are more toothed, while the lobes on sugar maples have smoother edges. I would not plan on planting flowers or shrubs under them, however. In severe chlorosis even the veins may turn yellow or the leaf may even turn white. However, sweet gum is not the only type of gum found in nature. The thirty-foot tall trees traveled from New Jersey in specialized flatbed trailers. They are frequently (and inappropriately) planted here in more suburban areas as street trees and in addition to getting their crowns whacked back to avoid power lines, the roots cause frequent upheavals of the sidewalks. And now, you can go on with your life knowing that you'll always be able to tell the difference between a baby Maple tree and Sweetgum. Young trees up to 4-8 inches with a smooth light gray bark, developing into gray or black ridges and ultimately narrow scaly plates. They have nice fall color. But maple leaves also have another big advantage for compost piles in that they are extremely low in lignin. "Liquidambar Styraciflua 'Rotundiloba. Btw, 9 years ago when the question was originally asked Chueh didn't appear to feel fun was being made by 'plant nerds'. I can't think of a messier tree. Often crowded toward the tips of branches. Each leaf blade has three lobes, with a broad, triangular lobe in the center. In North America, their range extends from Ontario to Florida. As for surface roots: Ours are almost 30 years old and, yes, there are some, but not awful, and the grass grows there. "differences betwen sweetgun and maple?". One way to be sure is to check the leaf arrangement on the branches. Blue Gum Tree, common eucalyptus tree. Mature trees often have corky bark that protrudes from the smaller branches and twigs giving them a winged appearance. Sweetgums have alternative leaf arrangement. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Botanical Name: Acer saccharum nigrum Invasiveness is a non-issue here. It is only in winter, after the tree's greenery has been . The brownish-grey bark is deeply furrowed with narrow scaly ridges. In Autumn, the leaves generally turn a reddish-purple or orange color. The sweet gum flowers bloom from March to May. Illustration uses linear gradients. Sycamore, yellow-poplar, and sweet gum trees share a similar broadleaf structure. Trees Image Gallery. But the sap, which is called storax, is more than just a chewy candy: Sweetgum trees and their sap have been used for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years, and researchers continue to study the use of sweetgum trees in medical settings, including the use of the storax to fight multidrug-resistant bacteria. Sweetgum leaves have a nice citrus smell to them whereas red maple leaves smell like, wellleaves (ha!). You can also note that the underside of red maple leaves are much lighter in color, almost white, compared to the underside of sweetgum leaves. Leaves turn yellow-purple-red in the fall, and stay on the tree quite late. Liquidambar styraciflua var. It has an attractive, uniform habit . Its weak wood is prone to breaking during severe weather, and the female trees also drop messy seeds. Even more, lignin has a significant impact to the nitrogen levels in your finished compost, and the soil you will use your compost in. This leaf shape resembles a star. Those reddish-pink, winged seed things you used to throw in the air and watch them flutter to the ground? The first historical reference to the tree comes from the author and soldier, Don Bernal Diaz del Castillo, who accompanied Cortez in 1519 and was a witness to ceremonies between Cortez and Montezuma, who both partook of a liquid amber extracted from a sweetgum tree. Although they can be composted, they should be used in moderation. Other trees with "maple-like" leavesthe sycamore, sweetgum, and yellow-poplarhave leaves that are alternate in arrangement. if (ry==0) 111. Tu, We: 10 a.m. 7 p.m. //specify random images below. Where the bark is not smooth, it is usually rough and flaky, resembling a layer of broken scales. Sweet Gum trees present a long-lasting kaleidoscopic display in the Autumn with spectacularly brilliant colors ranging from red to purple to yellow. Ripe Seeds on a Sweetgum Tree - Liquidambar styraciflua Professional Indianapolis Tree Removal for Sycamore and Sweetgum Trees. Maple Leaves. Maples come from a huge family of trees. low angle view of maple leaves on tree - sweet gum leaf stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. When you take any plant identification class you will learn about the concept of leaf arrangement, the way leaves are situated on the plant. The leaves of the Fruitless Sweetgum turn deep purple in the fall (USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7) and early winter (USDA hardiness zones 8 and 9). Many people recognize sweet gum as a distinct type of tree. Luo, Zidong, et al. The tree is located in Alley Pond Park in Queens and is visible from Interstate 495. By contrast, sweet gums have smooth bark that is gray or white in color. Steve Nix is a member of the Society of American Foresters and a former forest resources analyst for the state of Alabama. Steve Nix is a member of the Society of American Foresters and a former forest resources analyst for the state of Alabama. My front yard is a blazing glory thanks to the sweetgums in mine and my neighbors yards5 altogether. Avoid polluted sites. Summer leaves are a dark green with a high-gloss appearance, but the most spectacular part of this tree is the fall foliage with many shades of yellow, orange, bright red, purple or scarlet that may appear on the same branch. There are some varieties of trees leaves that can still be composted, but should be used only in moderation. Sweet gum leaves turn a mix of red, orange and yellow, often on the same tree. Ohio buckeye (Aesculus glabra) is usually a small to medium-size tree (20-40 feet tall) with compound leaves that have five oval-shaped leaflets. Maples are one of the few trees that have OPPOSITE leaf arrangement. As a whole, sycamores are members of the genus Planatus, which is made up of species commonly known as plane trees. Vector illustration of five colorful autumn leaves: Pin Oak, Japanese Maple, Shagbark Hickory, Laceleaf Japanese Maple and American Sweetgum (Redgum). The leaves are star-shaped and sometimes confused with maple leaves, but careful examination shows the difference. These brown "gumballs" are sturdy, able to survive being stepped on. Mature leaves are 4 to 7 inches (10 to 18 cm.) Each lobe is less than four inches in size. mexicana. I've read that both maples and sweetgums can develop extensive roots through decades. myimages[5]="../../../images/top-banner/cookie-mizer.jpg" var imagelinks2=new Array() Traditional medicine employed parts of sweetgum as an antiseptic and an astringent. The leaves of sweet gum are palmate like maple but the fruits are quite different. If the leaves are opposite each other on the branch, you have a maple. The remaining trees were subsequently placed between the wall of names and the western overlook. imagelinks[4]="http://www.ezboardwalk.com/" This tree: Features star-shaped leaves with 5 lobes (occasionally 7) that are lustrous medium green in color, toothed along the margins and 47 in length. Black maples form a large, rounded crown, making it an exceptional shade tree. i don't read where lucky said directly that it is a bad tree for you -just a bad one for him. This tree, also known as the Maidenhair, is a popular yard addition because it features stunning fall foliage and is hardy and low-maintenance. American sweetgum seeds are eaten by eastern goldfinches, purple finches, sparrows, mourning doves, northern bobwhites and wild turkeys. People also collect the spiny fruit clusters when they are dry and brown, often coating them with spray paint to create a variety of crafts. imagelinks[2]="https://woodmizer.com/us/Sawmill-Blades?utm_source=forestryforum.com&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=sawmillblades&utm_term=2022-05-01&utm_content=800x160" The Oriental sweet gum thrives in USDA zones 7 - 9 and grows between 20 and 30 ft. (6 - 10 m) tall. Those maples love water also. The sweet gum resembles a maple tree, and in the summer, the star-shaped leaves and sturdy trunk are impressive, if easily overlooked. Use as a campus or park tree, shade or large lawn tree. Description : Sweet gum is a large tree with a long, cylindrical trunk, pyramidal crown, and corky wings on branches and twigs. For mature trees, look for the fruits. CREATIVE. The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center site in New York generously donated a grove of forty Sweet Gum trees to the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania to commemorate the lives of the forty passengers and crew members of United Flight 93. They can also easily be incorporated into garden and flowerbed soil to help recharge depleted nutrient levels. Much like with the black walnut, leave buckeye leaves out of a compost pile. Be sure to also visit our Treesources page to learn about local trees, caring for trees, and more. Identify the American sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), also known as the liquid amber tree, by looking for its glossy, star-shaped leaves that turn yellow, orange, purple or red in the fall. //specify corresponding links below Rainbow Gum Tree, spectacular rainbow colored trunk. The resin rapidly seals over bark wounds and dries to form a protective layer. Bark matures to medium gray and resembles . Children have chewed the resinous sap like chewing gum. myimages2[2]="../../../images/top-banner/behindtheforum.jpg" Other trees with . Other variations include maple, birch, hickory, oak, poplar and willow. They are also, of course, used for their syrup, especially in North America where the maple leaf appears on the Canadian flag. Examine the leaves of the tree. Leaves are alternate, simple, star-shaped, with 5 (sometimes 7) lobes, 3-6 inches wide, deeply lobed; margin toothed, tips long-pointed; leaves slightly aromatic when bruised. Tree size: This slow-growing tree attains a height of 30 to 50 feet and a width of 20 to 30 feet. For those who are starting to learn about tree identification, books that focus on the trees you are most likely to see in the environment around you are the most effective. When left to grow to their heart's content, sweetgum and water gum trees will reach a height of up to 130 feet. Grows in a pyramidal shape, becoming more oval or rounded with age. The thin skins of maple leaves also shred easily and break down quickly in a compost pile. Lemon Scented Gum Tree, its strong lemon scent repels insects. The conspicuous one not mentioned yet, is that maples have their leaves in opposite pairs, whereas sweetgums have leaves alternately ('zig-zag') along the stems. Rarely reaches 100 feet in the wild. Known as one of the largest caterpillars in North America it can grow to the size of a hotdog. Updated: 00/04/25 The real difference is that the Red Maple has lighter and smoother bark then the Sugar Maple. Leaves of the mountain maple, Acer spicatum, on the other hand, have shallow lobes, more discernible in leaf veins rather than leaf shape. Moraine sweet-gum (Liquidambar styraciflua 'Moriane'): . Sweetgum is native throughout Kentucky, except the Bluegrass. Plus, white mulberry trees are known to be messy neighbors, and the species' male trees emit pollen notorious for triggering allergies. For more information on how to build a great fall compost pile with leaves, check out our How To Create A Great Fall Compost Pile article on the blog.