You also need to decide if you are going to start your seeds indoors or outdoors. If your sweet gum is too tall to spray, or if you don't want to attempt spraying a small tree, you can stop fruit production by having a certified arborist administer a trunk injection. Growing: Easy to grow from seed. When the seeds mature they turn black, but while they are still yellow they contain shikimic acid, the same ingredient in Tamiflu that was originally harvested only from star anise. The vicious seed pods have impaled many a forager and has done much to ruin the Sweet Gum’s reputation. Sweet Gum trees naturally grow in moist soils. Perhaps it is time for some rehabilitation. Plant a sweet gum tree a sufficient distance (at least 50 feet) from power lin es or structures, and far enough from a driveway to avoid root damage. Sweet gum seeds are eaten by many species of birds, including goldfinch, purple finch, sparrows, mourning doves, wild turkey, northern bobwhite, and wood duck, as well as by squirrels and chipmunks. If there’s a sweet gum in your yard, you can forget about walking around barefoot once the seedpods fall in autumn and winter. Overview of major botanical features. Eucalyptus trees don’t do well as potted plants, because the trees grow quite quickly, being rootbound in a pot will stunt growth, and they don’t like being transplanted. Steps. They can grow up to six-metres tall and produce fruit all year-round. Where conditions suit it, the tree can grow to mighty dimensions: nearly 75 feet tall with a spreading canopy. How long does a sweet gum tree live? Native to the open forests in southeastern Tasmania, the blue gum thrives in mild, damp climates and grows very well in the coastal areas of California. Cover the cost of postage and get 5 SweetGum seeds free. If you look very closely, they are actually a bit scary looking–they appear to be made of a collection of tiny, dark brown bird beaks. Despite its name the gum is not sweet. You painfully find them with your feet. The sticky or gummy sap of sweet gums serves a purpose for the tree. Transfer the seed package to the refrigerator and leave the seeds there for two months. The “natural way” to germinate tree seeds, then, is to allow nature to take its course. Place pots in a warm, shaded position and keep moist during germination. Images: No … It’s easy. I have tried sowings at different times throughout the year and have also obtained the opinions of other growers of native plants. Zone 0 covers the harshest areas in Canada for plant species. Sweet gum trees produce spiky, circular seed pods that can become hazardous if not properly cleaned. Tips. Thus, its growth, size and habit can be very variable depending on its location. RE-POTTING Sweet Gum can be re-potted every other year in early spring while the tree is still in its dormancy. Tree Type Mature Size The American sweetgum grows to a height of 60–75' and a spread of 40–50' at maturity. The distinctive seed pods are one way to easily identify a sweet gum tree. Plant them next April 1, 2015 and we'll give them until July1, 2017 to see who can grow the best tree. Most seeds, when sown in the fall without any pre-treatment, will begin to germinate the following spring. Space: Because you are growing your tree from seed, it will grow to full size (meaning it can reach 20-30 feet/6-9 meters in height). The spiky clusters are actually balls of fruit with tiny seeds inside that birds and squirrels snack on. Native Range of the Sweet Gum tree. You need to plant at least two trees in order to cross pollinate and produce nuts. And why? Avoid “top ping” the tree, and don’t cut the “leader” or main branch growing in the middle of the tree. Don’t trim a sweet gum tree until it is two years old or prune it in freezing weather. Since the black gum has a long taproot, it can have difficulties after it is transplanted. Inside each capsule are one or two small winged seeds. Generally a fast growing medium to tall gum. While sweet gum is known and appreciated for its lovely fall color, it is also despised for its seeds. These seed pods are also able to take root rather quickly, so keeping the surrounding ground raked and swept will prevent sweet gum trees from spreading and growing in excess. Sweet Gum trees native range is from Texas to New York (via the Ohio River valley). Trees may live to 400 years. Growing the Tree. Ecological Uses of Sweet Gum Tree. For more information on plant hardiness zones in Canada, visit Natural Resources Canada. Sweet gum seed pods, sometimes called gumballs, are spiny orbs produced from the clusters of small flowers that appear in spring. I do like to grow all our own trees if I can. At the time of re-potting, prune the roots heavily. The Sweet Gum tree has high value to all levels of the ecosystem. By mid-fall, the balls are dead and seedless. Quandong grow from large evergreen shrubs into small trees with gum-like leaves. Natural Habitat of the Sweet Gum tree. This fast-growing tree has a root system that will tear up your yard in no time. Children and animals are curious about these spiked balls and have some painful run-ins with the pods. I am told the best way to preserve this acid is to crush the green pods and tincture them. Another of the very best bonsai trees for beginners, the Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) is a member of the family Altingiaceae.It’s a primary tree, growing to heights of 60-100’. Seed collection: Sweetgum fruit is an aggregate of small 2-celled capsules that from a spiked ball. How to Grow Black Gum Trees . Green in the spring, they darken as autumn and winter pass, and they fall from the sweetgum by the hundreds. Growing a chestnut tree from a seed requires you follow a few steps in order for the seedling to develop correctly. The only edible part of the tree is the dried sap which makes a fragrant, bitter chewing gum. Higher numbers represent more temperate areas. Plan to plant your tree at least 30 feet (9.1 m) from another tree, particularly if you are planting two apple trees in a row. Hardiness zones are based largely on climate, particularly minimum temperatures. The Sweet Gum tree is the sand spur of the forest. Seeds have been sprouting and trees have been growing for an awfully long time without any help from humans. View Map. Known to grow well in Perth and similar areas and in parts of NSW. In the deep south, American Sweetgum can be one of the few trees with fiery red fall foliage each year. Sweet gum is a larval host plant for the beautiful luna moth. Also known as Redgum, starleaf-gum, sweet gum, gum, satin-walnut, or American storax. It grows in many different environments. 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