American sweetgum

Liquidambar styraciflua · Altingiaceae (Sweetgum family)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
American sweetgum

Leaf Morphology

Leaf Type

Simple, deciduous

Shape

Star-shaped with 5 distinct lobes

Margin

Finely serrate

Arrangement

Alternate on stems

Venation

Palmate with prominent primary veins radiating from the base

Key Features

Star-shaped five-lobed leaves with finely serrate margins and spiky spherical fruit clusters visible in the canopy

Description

Large deciduous tree with a straight trunk, deeply furrowed gray bark, and star-shaped leaves that turn brilliant shades of red, purple, and yellow in autumn

Habitat

Moist bottomlands, floodplains, and disturbed uplands with full sun exposure

Native Range

Native to the eastern United States, Mexico, and Central America; widely planted in urban landscapes

Identified on 10/17/2026