Liquidambar styraciflua 'GUM BALL' sweetgum

Gum Ball is a dwarf cultivar of sweetgum that has gained popularity for its compact size and attractive appearance without the need for pruning. Its leaves are deeply lobed, with five to seven lobes and prominent veining, turning into a spectacular mix of fiery red, orange, purple, and deep burgundy in autumn. The colours are intense and long-lasting, often persisting until Christmas, and they tend to appear later in the season than on other trees. It’s worth noting that 'Gum Ball' requires full sun throughout the day to develop its best autumn colours – just a few hours less, and the foliage may remain green, which would be a pity.

Unlike the species, 'Gum Ball' rarely produces fruit, sparing gardeners the spiky spheres that are often unwelcome in urban settings or on manicured lawns – especially if you happen to step on one barefoot. Its overall habit is irregularly spherical with a flattened top. It can be grown as a shrub reaching about 1.5 meters in both height and width, or as a half-standard or standard tree, where the total height equals the trunk height plus approximately 1.5 meters. It grows slowly and dense. The cultivar was discovered around 1965 by Hiram B. Stubblefield of Forest Nursery in Tennessee, USA, as a spontaneous mutation – a common practice among sweetgums which are prone to forming witches’ brooms with distinctly new characteristics.

In the landscape, 'Gum Ball' acts like a living ornament – small but striking. Thanks to its compact size, it fits well even in small gardens and front yards. It contrasts beautifully with fine-textured plants such as ornamental grasses, and in its standard form, it adds a vertical layer while extending seasonal interest – pair it with panicle hydrangeas that shine in summer, while the sweetgum takes over in autumn. Due to its slow growth and compact shape, this cultivar is perhaps uniquely suited for container growing – on terraces, balconies, or near entrances. In such cases, it’s important to provide a large container that can accommodate its roots, quality substrate, and regular watering without waterlogging.

Sweetgums are relatively tolerant when it comes to planting sites, but they do have preferences if you want them to thrive and look their best. Always give them full sun – adequate light is the key to vibrant autumn colours. They’ll cope with ordinary garden soil, but they’ll be more vigorous and attractive in acidic, deep soil that doesn’t dry out completely. Once established, they are impressively drought-tolerant – they can even draw moisture from dew condensed on their leaves overnight. On the other hand, they can also handle more water and we’ve found they’ll grow even tolerate occasional waterlogging which results in turning colours and shedding the leaves much earlier than others. Standard forms with a trunk require a strong support – a staking set for the first three years until they establish. The soil above the roots should be kept free of turf or competing plants – ideally mulched. Pruning or shaping, if needed, is best done in late winter or in midsummer. Very young plants should be protected from severe frost, as their hardiness is around –20 °C, but mature trees and shrubs with lignified tissues can easily withstand temperatures down to –29 °C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 12-02-2008; 06-11-2025